December 14

 Sunny so far this morning. Supposed to be warmer. I hope so because I need to sweep on the patio. I have collections of leaves in various nooks and piles of seed hulls under the bird feeder. Winter hasn't really started no matter what the calendar days and I already long for spring. The drab browns are not at all pretty and we haven't really had any long lasting snow to relieve the drabness. Mom said this morning that it just doesn't feel like the Christmas season: the music isn't as prominent, the decorations are very ordinary, and we haven't seen any really new or interesting, much less exciting, products. The advertising is more moronic than cute or interesting.

Stray thought #1: our leaders and many worldwide have been trying to push the Israelis into a ceasefire followed by steps to establish a "two state" solution. I saw a segment from an interview on (I don't know which) some network between a spokeswoman for the Israeli government and some anchor (I don't know who) which devolved into the woman trying to say why the "two state" notion is not workable and the anchorMAN repeatedly talking over her trying to get her to agree with his premise that the "two state" plan was the ONLY way to go forward. I kept shouting (and wishing) at that male idiot to shut up and listen. Her point, which he tried to make sure no one heard, was that as long as Hamas is present there is no solution. I would also say that as long as the Israeli government supported the Israeli settlers trying to push non-Jews out of the West Bank there is no way forward. The Idiot never thought of asking a question that would get at that. We tried to eliminate Al Qaida and it mutated and morphed into the Islamic State, Al Qaida in the Magreb, Al Qaida in the Levant, Al Qaida in northwest Afghanistan. And it has roots going out to Islamists in Nigeria, in Sudan, in the Horn of Africa and other places. That worked out real well, didn't it? (Sarcasm!!)

Robert Reich has an interesting article describing a discussion he hosted between Palestinians, Jews, and even an Israeli concerning the conflict between Hamas and Israel. I liked the distinction they came to that explanations are NOT justifications. You can explain a horrendous act but you can't justify it. I noticed that they came to the conclusion that two states are the only solution but aren't likely given Israel's treatment of Palestinians and Hamas.

The Milei government in Argentina has devalued the peso by 50%.  Al Jazerra presents the details here. They are also planning to drastically increase social spending, primarily for the lowest economic levels, to help the poor absorb the shock.