Spain Frightened

"The Spanish Armada deploys two frigates in Ceuta amid fears of another attack from Morocco."

Why is a large, rich European country suddenly terrorized by unarmed children who all they want is to get a servile job and eat? It is a typical overreaction of old, impotent invalids to a group of vital youths. 

The reaction of Italy is even more hysterical: they closed the borders to anyone coming from Spain. 

The last invasion of Spain was by Napoleon in 1808 (the Dos de Mayo) and ended in 1814. Since then, nothing serious. That is more than 200 years of peace and security.

Discounting the last "attack from Morocco". 

The Sky as it really is

It is the same sky as on Earth, but we have a thick atmosphere. The night sky on Mars is not black; it is green-blueish.

Danakali found gold

I was "potentially" among the very first investors in this South Australian start-up. I did not buy a share because it was being quoted only on a small South Australian stock exchange, and my bank had no correspondents there. I don't know how the Erythrean potash project is advancing, but the enterprise has expanded its operations and is, among other things, exploring the Saudi desert for gold (see pic). It is 54 degrees Centigrade there. Danakali has so much money that they are planning to expand into capital management. I should have paid the brokers' double fees and bought some Danakali.  

Negotiating with Opus5

 I have a new boss: Opus 5. I wrote a technical report, and "he" rejected it. Then I modified it a little, and we reached an agreement:‎

Yes, this is a formulation that I can sign – it is factually correct, it presents the gap openly, and determines the solution. ‎

"He" can sign the paper!  Am I still the engineer, or is he the final authority signing the instruments? Opus 5 feels superior to me, corrects me, and gives me orders. Do I care, or does it hurt my self-respect? 

We are not poor anymore

The Economist ranked Israel as the second most expensive country (the first is Switzerland).  What does it mean? That we are flooded with dollars. As always, we Jews tend to float to the surface. Since I don't like its soft-and-sweet buns, and the family is prejudiced against meat and processed food, McDonald's prices are meaningless for me. 

August-time

 35 degrees Celsius and little energy to work. Pedro Sánchez announced that Spain needs immigrants and, from now on, it will not return them to North Africa. The Moroccans read this in the media, and 70,000 swam to Ceuta. The doors were open. One hundred died in transit. Spain developed an inferiority complex and compensates by forbidding the use of American bases in Spain, by sending its Navy to "protect" the terrorist flotilla, and by suspending trade with Israel. Reading Spanish reactions to the Ceuta "invasion", they unanimously blame the Jews and America. 

Surtaxing the Kulaks

New York Mayor explains that "the pied-à-terre tax is something that will be levied upon non-primary residences that are worth more than $5 million".  The surtax has certain similarities with the first steps after the Russian Revolution and the Mao takeover of China. The kulaks were "rich" agricultural property owners, who were declared "class enemies" and subject to expropriation and later, severe punishment. Property being theft, they were considered criminals. The surtax smells antisemitic, as very few Afro-Americans and recent Hispanic immigrants own much real estate. But New York Jews do.