ZAHAL's dependence on Microsoft

The core dilemma:

Private control over critical infrastructure: National defense capabilities now depend on decisions made by profit-driven corporations based in foreign countries (primarily the US). These companies can:

• Cut off services unilaterally (as Microsoft just did to Israel)
• Be compelled by their home government to restrict access
• Prioritize shareholder profits over client nation security needs
• Have different political or ethical standards than their military clients

Real vulnerabilities this creates:

Economic leverage as geopolitical weapon: The US could potentially use cloud service restrictions as a form of sanctions or pressure, similar to how it uses SWIFT banking restrictions.

Single points of failure: As the US Navy example shows, militaries can become so dependent they "can't separate" from these platforms "without a complete rebuild from the ground up" US Navy: Custom cloud stuck in Azure without rebuild • The Register.

Data sovereignty concerns: Sensitive military intelligence may be stored on servers in foreign jurisdictions, subject to foreign laws and potential government access.

Why nations accept this risk:

No realistic alternatives: Building equivalent domestic capacity would take "years and massive investment" while "hyperscaler cloud services deliver unmatched capability at scale" Canada's Cloud Dependence: DND's Mission Critical Ops on US Clouds and Sovereignty | Windows Forum.

Comment: The USA is investing unprecedented amounts of resources in computer infrastructure. There is no alternative. Gradually, I'm understanding the problem. Google seems more friendly.

Antisemitism

 Microsoft decided to close down access to cloud services for one of Zahal's units. The reason given is that it contained personal information of civilians. Some Israelis are thinking of repatriating foreign bank accounts, as any day they can be closed down. It has been done to the Russian and Iranian accounts. Most of these funds remain frozen, though there have been ongoing discussions about using some of these assets to support Ukraine's reconstruction efforts.  Iran still has significant assets frozen in various countries, though the exact amounts are disputed and not disclosed. It reminds me of the Jewish deposits in Swiss banks, which were frozen in WWII and silently erased. 

Siesta

 People in Kfar Saba tend to live to around 84-85 years on average, making it the city with the highest life expectancy in Israel. This is quite impressive, approximately 2 years longer than the Israeli national average and significantly higher than the global average. It is even longer than the average in Spain. 

Last night it rained in Kfar Saba, and the air is clear. I slept a two-hour siesta and feel well. 

The pic shows the ancient tomb of Nabi Yamin (the Prophet Benjamin).  It is all that remained after the War of Independence. The last time I visited it was a Jewish tomb. 

Declaration of sympathy

In the course of the current anti-Israeli excitement, much is being written about the Balfour Declaration. I re-read it (see left) and it is a simple declaration of sympathy, not much more. People are writing that the Declaration must be annulled, as if this postcard created the State of Israel, and it could be erased by retracting it. The then-inexistent Palestinian Authority is trying to extort billions for the supposed damage caused to it by England's sympathy in 1917. These days, the United Nations is declaring the existence of a State of Palestine, as if all were a question of declarations and counter-declarations. 

Where are they living? asked an Israeli politician. Certainly not on this planet.

Where is the power?

 

Preparing for Dementia

 
Everybody dies, and those who stay healthy to 100, near the end, suffer from dementia. Ergo, if I do not die before, dementia is unavoidable. My father died from a heart attack, and my mother from liver cancer. My four grandparents and uncles were assassinated relatively young. So I have no personal and intimate experience with dementia. How to prepare for it?

(1) Hearing. When speaking with a person with dementia and hearing loss, make yourself visible to them. That means facing them and placing your head at the same level as theirs so they can see your lips.

During conversations, eliminate crosstalk, as simultaneous sounds can overwhelm individuals with dementia. Minimize background noise, remove distractions, and establish a quiet environment to promote focus.

Water Stress in China

 
From a RAND study: Arid northern China receives just 340.6 millimeters of rainfall, 70 percent less rainfall than southern China, which receives 1,146 mm each year.

At the same time, northern China supports 41 percent of the total population and has high agricultural and industrial water demands.

This is not new. RAND analysed how China's government is managing (or mismanaging) the issue, and its influence in China's foreign policy vis-à-vis the USA.