The Unfolding of WW3

 Noah Smith writes a very comprehensive analysis of the world political-military situation. I capture two points: (1) he mentions the danger of civil war in the USA, and (2) China's preparations for a war, with increased food production, big navy & weapons industry, etc. 

American decline may explain Bibi's defiance of American dictates in Gaza. He knows America intimately and if he defies America, he must be sure that Biden is weak.  I want a strong America. We just killed Ismail Haniyeh's three sons (3 of 13). Haniyeh is the elected leader of the Palestinians. 

All these make me feel uneasy. 

Preparing for the battle of Rafah

 The Defense Ministry has purchased 40,000 tents to better enable evacuation and operation in Rafah in the near future. 

PIC. Typical tent. 

En Guardia

It appears to me that Israel is readying itself for a ballistic exchange with Iran. What can I do? Hope for the best. 

Minister of Defense Yoav Galant at Tel Nof Air Base: "I can't promise you that you'll go on leave tomorrow, but I can tell you it will be interesting, you'll have something to tell your children, and then your grandchildren after that".

Today is 清明節 the Tomb-Sweeping Day

Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, one of China's traditional festivals, is dedicated to remembering and celebrating one's honorable ancestors.

 https://youtu.be/amJjeM8omS4?si=aIZ1rhPQB7r_MgkK

Food is always a central part of Chinese festivals. Qingtuan is the traditional food eaten during this festival. It is made from glutinous rice mixed with mugwort filled with sweet bean paste. Eating Qingming cake brings good luck and health. Mugwort was brought to North America as a garden medicinal and has since become a weed.

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is a massively aggressive spreader. The plant has a strong, resinous smell and spreads by the most aggressive lateral underground runners ever. These mostly remain near the soil surface, but they are so numerous that one has to dig extensively to remove the whole underground plant. 

The War has not ended

 

Bad news. The government announced that after conquering Rafiah, the war would continue with the Hizballah in the North. The Northern towns and villages have been abandoned and the roads closed (pic). I am sick of this long war. 

British Water companies under Attack

From Financial Times: 

Water companies in England and Wales will be required to install monitors on an additional 7,000 emergency overflow pipes used to dump sewage into the nation’s waterways, the environmental watchdog has said.

Although companies often blame unpredictable weather and climate change for causing more frequent untreated sewage overflows, a study by Imperial College London last year found that by far the biggest problem was insufficient capacity at wastewater treatment plants, which meant they were releasing sewage into waterways even during dry periods. The regulator is now investigating six water companies over concerns that they might have breached sewage regulation. 

The EA is also conducting its largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at more than 2,200 sewage treatment works. Water UK, which represents the industry, said: “Water companies are committed to robust monitoring of storm overflows across England and Wales. “Due in part to their operating outdoors and in all weather conditions, some monitors will occasionally be temporarily out of action while maintenance is under way. This has improved, and the regulator has taken tough new powers to ensure the highest standards.”

Yesterday I tried Claude to admit that Thames Water's financial failure was due to over-regulation. The above article makes my case.  

Sixty Years Ago

 I was there in 1969 - in San Francisco, in Berkeley, in New York - I was everywhere traveling and sleeping with a free Greyhound ticket. Who would have imagined that the flower generation would give birth to the horrible antisemite generation of today?