Saturday Updates

A good Saturday Morne Stroock's Books weekenders. 

It looks like we have the bathroom tile, vanity, and fixtures picked out. 

An excellent week of gym time, leaving us very sore yesterday. 

Between the Regime halting certain arms shipments, the UNGA recognition of a Palestinian state, stalled negotiations, the very latest hostage video, and the ongoing war...just a bad, awful week for Israel. Perhaps Eden Golan can redeem the Jewish state at the Eurovision finale tonight. We bet Malmo riots if she wins. 

Ynet has a terrifying summary of Hezbollah's intentions and capabilities in Lebanon. A terrible war awaits. Okay, Bibi. You've been Prime Minister for most of the Hezbollah buildup. Why was it allowed to happen?

Despite regime threats the IDF operation in Rafah is ongoing and expanding. The IDF is also operating in areas of central and northern Gaza. Hamas has been able to regroup in some areas because the IDF withdrew from them. Which was smart as Israeli troops manning checkpoints and the like would have been targets. Now Hamas gunmen are targets as the IDF reenters those areas. 'Authorities' also leaked to the press that Sinwar isn't in Rafah, he's in Khan Younis. Exit question: what was the purpose of the leak? 

And as always we see what was meant to be a few notes on what's happening in Israel turns into a mini essay. 

The things:

In War Night: and Other Stories of the Great Nuclear War of 1975, the Lexington story is almost (almost!) done. We're becoming pleased.

We are 2/3rds of the way done with the readthrough of World War 1990: Norway. Delays and delays, but those delays are worth it.

We've been rewatching Sci Fi' Channel's version of Dune, now nearly 25 years old (!) preparatory to blogging about it all next week.