Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Life expectancy

 Surprisingly, people lives longest in Hong Kong. For males, we at 81.1 are in the top rank with Japan and the best European countries. Israel differs from the rest in that its population is growing. It is because the Jewish religion that is definitively pro-life. We have a good, long life here. 

Countries and regions by life expectancy at birth in 2018 (2019 report)[7][8][9]
RankCountries and regionsLife expectancy at birth (in years)
OverallFemaleMale
1 Hong Kong84.787.681.8
2 Japan84.587.581.1
3 Singapore83.885.881.5
4 Italy83.685.581.7
5 Spain83.486.180.7
  Switzerland83.485.381.1
7 Australia83.385.381.3
8 Iceland82.984.481.3
9 Israel82.884.481.1
 South Korea82.885.879.7
11 Sweden82.784.480.9

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

The Unfinished Caucasus War

 The impossible geopolitical situation after the retirement of Armenian forces from Nagorno-Karabakh will certainly result in another war in the next ten years. Azerbaijan has no territorial continuity, and parts of it are still occupied by Armenia. The big powers like Russia and Turkey should let the war continue till a feasible geography was achieved, or a clear winner that can dictate its terms. Now we have an unresolved conflict, both parties will rearm and wait for the next opportunity to get even. 

This war resulted also in a triumph of Turkish and Israeli weapons. Turkey has grown into a serious industrial power. Under Biden, it is the regional hegemon. In a modest way, our products will be in demand. 

Monday, November 23, 2020

I feel Kelvin Helmholtz Waves

Sudden change in wind speed and direction produces turbulent eddies i.e. Kelvin Helmholtz Waves. For two months I hoarded cash, not knowing what to do with it. Today I felt a sudden change in the stock exchange, and the re-birth of hope and activity. I started to buy stock, including fossil oil and gas, BAZAN (the local refinery), Cherry, a Chinese car maker owned by an Israeli concern. The shekel is stronger than ever, 3.3 shekel per USdollar, making Tel Aviv one of the most expensive cities of the world. The cheapest apartment in Kfar Saba sells for 2 - 3 million shekels. My youngest daughter wants to leave the kibbutz, to live near her sisters. Her boyfriend is unemployed and depressed, as are those in the music/entertainment industry.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Did the Voting Machines "vote" for Biden?

 Basically, I know nothing about the last American elections and my opinion is worthless. The Republicans are promising to prove in court that Biden's election was through a massive, organized fraud. They think that the judges will throw out their cases because they were hired in Obama's time, and they are decided to go on appealing up to the High Court. This will take a year, at least. A "balagan" (a disorderly house, a Hebrew expression inherited from the Ottomans) of Biblical proportions.  

Friday, November 20, 2020

Civilization!

Lully, Versailles 400 years ago. 

Azeri troops enter Aghdam

Azeri Troops moved into the district of Aghdam, one of three due to be handed back. Armenia will also hand over the Kalbajar district wedged between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia on November 25 and the Lachin district by December 1.  

It follows that Turkey's prestige is growing in the region. In a certain way, Turkey works as a counterweight to Iran.  

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Where value is

 

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is making large bets on Big Pharma companies.  It has sold Apple and big banks and bought 21 million shares of Abbvie, 22 million of Merck, 3.7 million shares of Pfizer and nearly 30 million shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb. 

Apparently Buffett is abandoning physical "moat" enterprises and even "high tech" and is going for health research.