Buddhism, a consolation religion

 

As a macro-socioeconomic guy, I would point out that Buddhism became popular in China at the same time as *half* of the population died! Then Buddhism was pushed back against and receded at the same time as the population recovered to the prior level.

I am not sure. Was the Yuan (Mongol) terror regime an era of prosperity? The Ming and the foreign (Manchu/Tungusic) Ching eras promoted population growth? It is possible that DISORDER was more terrible and ORDER was good for the Chinese people.

Cat Ladies for Kamala

 

Swift included an image of herself with her cat in her post, which she signed as "childless cat lady," in an apparent dig at remarks previously made by Trump's running mate J.D. Vance, who, in a 2021 interview, called some leading Democrats "a bunch of childless cat ladies." 

The Clock is Ticking

 Israel:  “I’m ready to provide safe passage to Sinwar, his family, whoever wants to join him. We want the hostages back. We want demilitarization, de-radicalization of course — a new system that will manage Gaza," Hirsch stated.

“In parallel, I must work on plans B, C, and D because I must bring the hostages back home,” Hirsch added. “The clock is ticking; the hostages do not have time." 

Frankfurt Waste Incineration plant is out of operation

 

The pic shows exactly how I remember it when I visited the place. No garbage trucks approaching the site on Heddernheimer Landstraße, no steam rising into the sky via the colorful chimney. Where 2000 tons of household waste are usually delivered every day, incinerated and the waste heat converted into electricity and district heating so that it is always bright and warm in 30,000 Frankfurt households, everything is currently at a standstill. The largest waste-to-energy plant in Hesse and one of the most modern in Germany is out of operation. The operator sat on a high super easy throne in a glass cabin and controlled the operation with one hand. Impressive.  

As I remember, they used fossil fuels to burn the trash and the balance of energy was negative, that is, the amount of energy invested was lower than the electricity achieved. But it was considered "green". 

Sunday morning

 I am late with my projects. I took more than I could do. Saturday night, I worked and finished Anita's Kfar Shmariahu project and slept till 10 AM dreaming of war. Why do I need this at age 78? 

In 2010, the family team opened its first manufacturing plant in Ra'anana, Israel, and in 2014 Anita Gelato went global, launching its first overseas shop in Sydney.^[6] Several more shops were opened in Australia, and then in Spain, Cyprus, and Puerto Rico. The first USA location opened in 2020 in Manhattan's Upper East Side,^[7] and later in Los Angeles, and Miami. The brand's UK location opened in London's West End in 2022.^{[8] (from wiki)}

^{I am with them from the very beginning.}

Friday sleeping late

The last week I was tired, had insomnia, and did little work.  Yesterday, I went to sleep at 10 PM slept 12 hs, and woke up fresh and not fatigued. I feel so good that I worked no more than two hours.

Searching for a suitable illustration on Google, I found only African men and African females. Out of options, I copied this one. 

Zangezur Corridor

 Never heard of the Zangezur Corridor, it sounds like a Sci Fi location. But his corridor (see pic) is causing serious tensions between neighbors Russia and Iran. Russia's population is 120 million, Iran's near 100 million. It could lead to hostilities. Iran is vulnerable on several issues, Israel is not its sole or even main problem.

The Iranian regime has historically opposed Azerbaijani and Turkish efforts to establish the so-called Zangezur corridor between Azerbaijan proper and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic because such a corridor, going through Armenia’s most southern province, might sever Iranian access to Armenia and then Europe. As it is well known, Nakhchivan was founded by Noah after the Flood, or maybe not. 

Azerbaijan has at various times threatened to establish the corridor by force if necessary, which would be likely to provoke a further war with Armenia.

Azerbaijan’s military defence budget is more than three times the size of Armenia’s, and Baku demonstrated its military superiority in September 2023 by recapturing the occupied territories in Nagorno-Karabakh within 24 hours.

Vladimir Putin said that Moscow backed the corridor and that Armenia was sabotaging a Russian brokered agreement to open it. Tehran is debating its relations with Moscow. Corridors on enemy territory, vide Danzig, are a bad idea.