Mourning

 Police officials have made a request to the Israeli public to avoid driving to the Gush Dan region except those seeking to attend the funeral. "This is a national event, one of the biggest the State of Israel will experience," the police chief said. Rabbi Kanievsky, leader of the Lithuanian faction of the religious sector, has died of old age. 

Puerto Rico vs Aurelius

 

PR has outstanding bonds for 72 billion and has declared bankruptcy. Aurelius, a vulture fund son of Elliott the Father of all Vultures, bought some very depreciated bonds and now demand to be paid in full. The island is a dependency of the USA and the federal taxpayer will have to pay. The debts are the legacy of corrupt politicians of the past. 

The issue is that many municipalities and States like Connecticut and New Jersey have also sold bonds that cannot re-pay. Kostolanyi had an informant (spy)  in the Danish Government so he knew that they had decided to pay the debt - and then bought a big lot on credit very cheap. He made a fortune. That was before WWII. 

Vladimir Vladimirovich

 Watched BBC's film about Putin. Many interviews are very credible. He is (was?) the richest man in the world. He was advanced by Yeltzin because he protected his disgraced boss in Saint Petersburg. Loyalty, a most scarce quality (I don't have it), was rewarded. 

Creative Destruction

The fresh U.S. aid to Ukraine includes a longer-range anti-aircraft system, 800 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 9,000 anti-tank missiles, and 7,000 small arms along with 20 million rounds of ammunition. Previously the U.S. supply included 600 Stinger antiaircraft systems, 2,600 Javelin anti-armor systems, helicopters, and patrol boats, 200 machine guns, 200 grenade launchers, and 40 million rounds of small-arms ammunition.

What is the meaning of this? Wall Street is celebrating. America is playing the strategic encirclement game (Wei qi 围棋  = go) and that is driving crazy the Russians. Further dismantling Russia will increase Germany's security. Russia is resisting and is ready to throw in its nuclear weapons. 

The negotiations between America and Iran are stalling, which always favors the stronger party. It may be the American strategy vis-a-vis Iran.  China continues to build itself but is approaching some kind of Japanese stasis. The only active enemy of Israel is Lebanon's Hizballah. It seems to have been forgotten, but our people must be thinking hard about how to manage it. Am reading Kissinger's "On China". Photo: Russian and Japanese negotiating the end of the 1900 war.  

Hard Work

 I have completed planning the plumbing systems of an old cinema that is being re-built as a VIP gym. The cinema business is disappearing, people entertain themselves at home. The main problem is the large central space that will be reformatted into a multi-level studio. I had to include sewage pumps, which I try to avoid if possible. During this job, my blood pressure remained normal for my age.  

TASE mysteries

Idan Ofer - the owner of 45% of ICL - sold 1.5% to funds that were desperate for the stock. Idan said that the price was high (in fact the highest ever). Immediately, the stock's price sank 7%. Is there something he knows that he is ready to sell now when the perspective of the future rises is 100% certain?  Speculators certainly seem to think he is hiding some weakness.

I am watching Jen Psaki's press conference and am impressed. What a yegua!

Ruining Europe

Somebody on UNZ wrote that the Ukraine war is in fact the USA ruining Europe's economy. Now, Biden has decided to boycott Russian oil - that will cause even higher prices and a severe shock to Europe, possibly recession. Not good. 

P.D.: As Biden finished his speech (very nicely delivered) the NASDAQ changed its color and from deep red turned green. Wall Street knows that war in Europe is good for business.