Planet Venus and the crescent moon

I took these photos the other day in London.

Ruth Comerford writing in BBC:

Stargazers around the globe were treated to a stunning celestial scene on Friday as Venus appeared shining brightly above a crescent Moon.

The planet was visible to the naked eye from the UK to the US, Turkey and China.

Venus is often called the Evening Star or Morning Star because, when it is prominent, it appears like the brightest "star" in the sky.

The true dimensions of a Gaza ceasefire

Excerpting Adam Rasgon and Aaron Boxerman in “As Biden’s Term Ends, Gaza Truce Efforts Proceed Cautiously” (NYT):

Talks between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza and free the remaining hostages have appeared to make little headway, according to officials familiar with the discussions, as the clock runs down on the Biden administration’s remaining days to reach an agreement on a cease-fire.

But it was far from clear whether Israel and Hamas were ready to move ahead in the coming days. Numerous rounds of negotiations have seen hopes rise only to be dashed amid gaps in the two sides’ demands.  

Hamas has said it would not release any more hostages unless Israel agreed to end the war, completely withdraw its forces and release scores of Palestinians in Israeli jails.

Hamas was still demanding an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal, although it was willing to be flexible about the timetable for both, Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas official, told the Al Jazeera broadcaster in late December.

For its part, Israel is frustrated that Hamas has not handed over a list of the living hostages whom it is holding in Gaza, according to an Israeli official and another official familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomacy.

Hamas should not expect a ceasefire without (1) surrendering to Israel; and (2) releasing ALL the hostages.

If Israel entertains an entirely one-sided ceasefire against Hamas before Hamas is completely destroyed, then Hamas will remain in power in Gaza - holding both the Israelis and the Gazans hostage.

Israel will probably never get a better opportunity to remove Hamas from power.

It makes perfect sense to me for the Israeli government to hold out: Netanyahu has Hamas on the ropes, and he doesn’t see any reason (and nor would I) to lose long-term security and peace (i.e. total defeat) at the negotiating table.

Other reasons include:

• Hamas could stop the war by releasing the hostages - Hamas doesn’t know where the hostages are in Gaza; hence Hamas still hasn’t sent a list of living or dead hostages to be freed in 1st phase. If they can’t account for the hostages, then there is no deal to be had. Simple as.
• Peace is only possible if Hamas are removed from authority completely - not just stripped off military assets. If Hamas remain the de jure authority; then the hostages won’t be released. And then, Israel remaining on a constant high-alert and ever prepared for any and all potential threats, planning, or attempts similar to Oct-7. From an Israeli point of view, a high stance of aggression is necessary for its long-term safety.
• Hamas have not rescinded their demand for the elimination of the state of Israel.
• Other Arab states don’t want to get involved in some peacekeeping arrangement - so, who will bring soldiers to the ground, via this option?
• The Philadelphi corridor - Apparently, Hamas have been insisting on a complete withdrawal by the IDF from the Philadelphi corridor. No way. The taking of that corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border was how Israel starved Hamas of military weapons being smuggled into Gaza. Why would Israel agree to an entirely unreasonable demand compromising its security?

Leonardo da Vinci - The Burlington House Cartoon

How does Leonardo da Vinci Paint such enigmatic smiles and faces?

Incredible skill with chiaroscuro shading and perspective. Those lips with its shading on the sides and below the lip - like a secret.

The Madonna seems to be glowing with pride, tenderness and love. Saint Anne looks at her daughter with so much warmth. The Madonna’s cheeks have a wonderful smoky effect - sfumato. 

Using shading to fine-tune the expressiveness of the face.

This is the only surviving large-scale drawing by Leonardo da Vinci. 

The Virgin Mary sitting on the lap of her mother, Saint Anne. Mary cradles the Christ Child in her arms, who reaches towards his cousin Saint John the Baptist with a gesture of blessing.

The drawing is known today as The Burlington House Cartoon, after the building in which it was displayed when it was in the collection of the Royal Academy. 

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Acquired by the National Gallery in 1962.

The Kamal Adwan Hospital and the IDF

I think the above conduct of the IDF with respect to the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza illustrates the chasm between Hamas and the IDF.

Firstly, the IDF evacuated civilians, patients and medical staff. The IDF was protecting the Gazans from Hamas.

Then, the IDF focused on stamping out these terrorists.

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It is not Israel that has forced the patients to leave - it is the evil use of the hospital as a military base from which to attack Israeli troops that is the operating cause.

What is Israel to do?  Leave the hospital alone and let Hamas consolidate there, and let its enemy use the laws of war and morality as a cudgel to destroy Israel and kill its inhabitants? 

Israel is doing the right thing here and is a moral exemplar to the world - insisting on doing the right thing no matter the misplaced criticism it gets.

“Do collecting families have any responsibility to share iconic works of art with the broader public?”

I think so.

I think it’s wrong for great masterpieces to be hoarded.

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Article relates to the missing “Portrait of Dr. Gachet” by Vincent van Gogh. 

From “The Search for van Gogh’s Lost Masterpiece” (NYT):

Do collecting families have any responsibility to share iconic works of art with the broader public?

The question has grown more relevant as it becomes clearer that most museums can no longer outbid billionaire collectors for the greatest works of art. Few paintings make that point plainer than Dr. Gachet’s portrait, a piece long on public display that has now vanished into someone’s private home or a climate-controlled warehouse.

For many in the art world, such a work is not just a creative expression, but part of a trade that survives because of the interest and deep pockets of collectors who may, or may not, choose to share their work.

“People are allowed to own things privately,” said Michael Findlay, who was involved as a specialist for Christie’s in the 1990 auction sale of the Gachet. “Does it belong to everybody? No, it does not.”

But the loss is palpable to people like Cynthia Saltzman, the author of the 1998 book “Portrait of Dr. Gachet.”

She regularly viewed the painting at the Met. She had expected, even after it was sold privately, that the picture would surface here and there, at an exhibition or an auction.

The New Orleans terrorist attack

Poor people of New Orleans.

Maniac created by religious fanaticism & blind hatred that comes from being brainwashed.

It seems he had some financial woes. But, lots of people have financial problems. They get another job, seek the help of a financial advisor etc. They just don’t get into a pickup truck with a rifle and start randomly running over people.

This is what “globalise the intifada” means in reality.