Time

Reasonable

Now that things are down to the wire on the Brexit vote,
one terribly difficult and vexatious question remains. Once
they are out, could the UK ever get back in? Political life being
what it is and given the certainty of an eventual change of
government, the question is open.

The EU surely has some garde-fous on the matter. I have read
that waiting at least ten years, and then being forced into the
Eurozone seems about right.

In most cases of constitutional change, one does look for meaningful
majorities like 70%. A fiftyish number might hide randomness, like
who cares? The government might usefully leave some legislation on that
on the referendum question. Because who hasn't thought 'This is why direct
democracy is dangerous' on this one. Indeed, pundits have started writing
about precrastination ie attacking an anxiety-provoking task impulsively and
prematurely (as opposed to procrastination, putting it off). Lets just vote
on it and hope for the best!

So indeed, whatever the next steps taken here, the approach must be
thoughtful, and deemed reasonable by all.

                                *     *     *
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3927_en.htm

Who is telling UK citizens about this?

                             *     *      *
A litlle logic quizz:  On thus has the choice between Customs Union,
Common Market, both, neither.

Which one(s) allow the UK to make its own trade deals?

Which one(s) avoid a border with Ireland?

https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2016/10/07/the-difference-between-europes-customs-union-and-single-market

The Brexit options above were done on the presentation from

the Economist article. One should note the 'both agreements' is 

equivalent to remain; 'neither' to hard Brexit. There is no convergence

for the present Parliament. Player PM - Theresa May - needs to include 

the Custom's Union to get anything through Parliament. This condition

is also met by the remain option. Player Brexiter - Boris Johnson - 

wants the freedom for Britain to make its own Trade Deals ie the Common

Market without common borders. He is also happy with a hard Brexit.

If Mrs May resigns in favour of a Brexiter, this Parliament is no

longer viable... from a purely logical point of view.

                                  

Leaving

According to a lengthy piece on Cyberpresse SNC-Lavalin did indeed
brief the government on plans to leave Canada:

https://www.lapresse.ca/affaires/entreprises/201903/28/01-5219979-snc-lavalin-pourrait-demenager-aux-e-u-si-elle-nobtient-pas-une-entente.php

Brexit Effects

France's INSEE has published  (parameters specific) projections
on the effects of deal/no deal Brexit for the 27 Members economies.
Ireland is the most affected in either scenario.

https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2019/03/26/brexit-quitte-ou-double-pour-les-economies-europeennes_1717331

                                    *     *     *

source: Libération March 26, 2019

author: Lucie Lespinasse

translation: doxa-louise

Brexit: double or nothing for European Economies

Insee (l’Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques) published with its latest
forecast a complete file on the consequences of Brexit for the economies of the 27 Member
States.

Uncertainty remains on the outcome of discussions on the modalities for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. In both cases, from an economic point of view, everybody looses. We have yet to know to what extent.

In its latest forecast. INSEE has published a complete file on the consequences of Brexit for the economies of the 27 Member States. The formula used is based on a consideration of commercial exchanges, but does not take into account changes in the structure of international commerce, changes in the behaviours of individuals or again a possible devaluation of the Pound. The reference level of GDP in this study is that which the country would have reached in the absence of Brexit.

A possible easy transition

If a soft Brexit is decided on, an accord will be reached between the EU and the United Kingdom. A transition period would be put in place going to December 31, 2020 so that commercial arrangements could be negotiated and the hike in customs’ duties would only apply starting January 1, 2021. In the hard Brexit alternative, there would be no transition period put in place and the effects would be felt from the moment of departure of the United Kingdom from the EU.

Customs’ Duties

In the case of an accord, the customs’ tariffs chosen could be those agreed to with Norway (who is a member of the common Market where free trade is the rule), that is near 0%. Without an accord, no bilateral treaty would be possible and the customs’ duties would thus be defined according to the most favoured nation clause. The United Kingdom would have to apply these tariffs in an equal manner to all commercial partners, without privilege to one or the other. In this case, a significant drop in the levels of commercial exchanges is to be expected.

Yet, even in the case of the ‘soft’ version, non-tariff barriers (obstacles or rule-defined constraints, technical or administrative, such as waiting times or health regulations) will go up. The increase would be of 2.8% in the case of an accord and of 8.3% without.

Impact on imports and exports

Some 53% of British imports come from the UE, mostly services (mainly from France)

followed by manufactured goods (essentially from Germany). On the exports side, the UE is also Britain’s main commercial partner holding 38.9% of British exports, for the greatest part services.

Given a hike in customs’ duties, a drop in international exchanges with the UE is to be expected, which would deprive not only the United Kingdom but also its commercial partners, in the short term, of part of their GIP. Ireland and the Czechoslovakia would be the countries most severely affected (respectively -1.4 and -0.7% percent of GDP in the context of a soft Brexit), given that exports to the United Kingdom represent a large proportion of the GDP. Germany and France in turn, would be less hurt, because the importance of exports in their GDP is less.

Yet, Germany would be particularly vulnerable to second round effects. In fact, Berlin produces a great number of intermediate goods, which are transformed in other European countries and then exported to the United Kingdom. For example, 11.3% of Czech exports to the United Kingdom come from intermediate products from Germany which are finalized in theCzech Republic. The exports of such intermediate goods would also be affected by a drop in international trade.

Lower GDP for all Member States

Whatever the final decision and considering international exchanges only, the Member States of the EU will see a drop in their GDP as soon as the first trimester following the withdraw of the United Kingdom. Ireland remains the most affected country in both scenarios: -1.4% in the ‘soft’ version and -4.1% in the case of a withdrawal with no deal. Would follow the Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany (-0.5% for soft Brexit and -0.9% for hard(, the fifth most impacted country. France, Spain and Italy would experience a lesser drop of GDP (-0.3% rather than -0.6%).

Worse yet, if one takes into account an estimate of non-tariff barriers, the impact on the GDP of European countries is certainly stronger. The drop for France could be -0.6% with an accord and -1.7% without; for Germany, -1% versus -2.4% and for Ireland -1.6% versus -4.9%.

Difference observed between countries may also be from the nature of the goods exchanged, knowing that services (for which France is a great exporter), will not be subject to customs’ duties and will carry non-tariff barriers that are lower than other exports. The food/agriculture sector, the central one for Ireland, would see customs’ tariffs go up by 20%.

This being said, the British government announced on March 13 it would hold back customs’ duties in the no deal case. Thus, 87% of imports would not be touched by customs’ duties and no border controls would be re-established on the border with Ireland, so not to go back to a hard border. In that case, INSEE estimates on the consequences of a hard Brexit would need to be revised downward.

Chiming In

In Canada's federal government, expenditures and programs are
controlled by the Tresury Board, whose minister sits in the cabinet.
There is then a normal cycle of accountability through Parliament.
And the press reports back to the general public. Somehow this is
not happening with the EU. There is a government of sorts for internal
matters, the Commission, and External Affairs is the purview of the
national leaders in the European Council. Individuals holding cabinet positions
in the Council are rotated from various member countries, with each country
holding one portfolio...etc Après vous.

The overall budget of the EU for 2019 is 165.8 billion Euros. In contrast, that of
the UK as a country amounts to 772 billion Pounds (906 billion Euros). So covering
all of Europe, there is less going on. And there is information about the EU's programs
and activities, all of it maddeningly cheerful.

So where is the dirt? How would one ever know? Here is the central problem of
the EU as a resource-sucking institution: it is a space of diplomatic niceties, inside and
out.

Yet some people do know. I was reading last night about a modelling exercise that shows
the expected effects on GDP of both a deal or no deal scenarios on various countries,
short term and long. So there is expert work being done, and the hungry press is
being fed. The kind of piece on my list of things to translate for my Anglophone
friends. But why do I need to? The official languages of the EU are French, English and
German and it would be reasonable to expect to be reading all about in those
three languages the next day. Apple and Microsoft are all over themselves trying to
offer news services. This can happen!

So - in a remain after all scenario - there would be work to be done to use the
services of the EU.

Also noteworthy, Mrs May did not participate in the last Council discussion, but
simply left with her extension decision. They discussed China, and decided stuff.

Just saying...

The current EU Commission

https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2019/03/26/brexit-quitte-ou-double-pour-les-economies-europeennes_1717331

https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2019/03/22/bruxelles-apres-le-brexit-le-conseil-europeen-des-chefs-d-etat-s-acheve-sur-le-debut-des-discussions_1716870

Fou

Below, a famous passage from the Surrealist film l'Âge d'Or
(Salvador Dali, 1930). Our couple steals away from a funeral to make
out, but the other attendees won't let them. It's l'amour fou.

The usual interpretation is that society imposes restrictive codes of
behavior on all of us but I like to think of it in other terms: there are special
relationships that are just plain mad!!

Better, eh?

Nestlé has a new product out at my local Super C. A third
the calories of Hagen Daz, 5$ rather than 7$. One person
commented it was better than Halotop...

China Eco

Translation of the below on the Chinese economy.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/economie/le-scan-eco/dessous-chiffres/2019/03/22/29006-20190322ARTFIG00003--quel-point-sommes-nous-dependants-de-l-economie-chinoise.php

                          *     *     *

source: Le Figaro LeScanEco 22/03/2019

author: Wladimir Garcin-Berson

translation: doxa-louise

How dependent have we become on the Chinese Economy?

LE SCAN ÉCO - Increasingly dependent on the  Middle Kingdom,

emerging economies are concerned about the slowdown in Chinese growth. On the occasion of a visit by president Xi Jinping to Italy and then France, le Figaro reviews the question.

After decades of remarkable growth and ‘hyper’ economic development, the Chinese giant is showing signs of being winded and has transited to a slower pace. For 2018, 

GDP in the Middle Kingdom went up by 6.6%, the lowest rate sin ce 28 years. Other than 

this unique indicator, there are multiple alarming signs: growth has gone down incessantly 

throughout the entire year, the commercial war with the US shows no sign of abating while 

other statistics such as retail trade and public debt are also worrisome. worse still, the Commerce Department has warned that ‘very probably’ the slowdown in consumer spending would 

continue in 2019, a pattern that won’t hearten international decision-makers.

Indeed, the health of the Chinese economy is of interest beyond its borders, given that the 

country has become, in a few decades, a motor of global growth. Moreover, if the stronger 

economies such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany or the United States, all possess 

a security mattress and diversified economies making these less dependent on China, others,
such as emerging countries, are more vulnerable, and fear the loss of an essentiel economic

ally. A difficulty that would add on to the current list of challenges, such as the slowdown in the global economy, higher American interest rates or again a drop in commercial exchanges in the 

last few months.

Such apprehension became quite evident at the last World Economic Summit, in Davos, at 

the end of January. Outside the conference rooms, the president of the African Development 

Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, thus made clear that ‘the Chinese slowdown is on the mind of 

everyone’ because of ‘the impact on Chinese demand’, and thus on ‘exporting countries’. 

The leader (from Nigeria) promised to ‘follow the situation closely’, in an echo to the leaders 

of other developing economies. The stakes are enormous, with many countries finding 

themselves in a state of dependence on the chinese giant. Four indicators are relevant, in this 

matter.

1-Commerce: the Chinese motor is slowing

A vacuum suction for primary resources, China imports a good deal of world materials 

to transform these into finished products exported the world over. A situation that is positive for exporting countries, but which also makes them dependent on Beijing: ‘Africa natural resource exports - close to 85% of these -  go toward Beijing’, reminded us Akinwumi Adesina at Davos. 

Thus if world demand goes down, China will produce less, and might well decide to put the breaks on imports. This scenario is troublesome for emergents, where China is a big client for all exports, while developed countries such as France, Germany, the United States and Japan have a more balanced array of commercial partners.

According to the World Bank, China accounts for at least 15% of exports for twenty countries, in Latin America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Among these one finds, Uruguay, South Korea, Japan, Chile, Burma, Peru and even Australia. The weight of China for exports from these countries can go to 43.2% for Angola, up to 54.16% for Hong Kong and almost 80% for Mongolia. As an example, the Democratic Republic of Congo sends a bit more than a third of its exports toward Beijing: the later being mostly cobalt, copper, oil and gold. Chile, where a quarter of exports go toward China, sends principally copper, iron, fruit and wine.

A historian specializing in China and consultant for Asia at the Institut Montaigne, François Godement is of the opinion that the real risk is for the long term: ‘If demand goes down, the 

price for primary resources will go down with it, and emerging countries that finance their development on this will go under’, is his analysis.

2-Investment from others: an essential aspect of development

Other aspect of the Chinese presence abroad, the flux of funds could dry up if the slowdown in economic activity persists. according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) out of China for 2016 came to more than 1300 billion dollars in the world, of which a mere 14% goes to the developed world (Europe, North America, Japan, Israel, Australia, New-Zealand...) and from the bulk of those funds marked for the developing world, 3.5% goes to Africa, 18% to Latin America or the Caribbean and more than 78% to Asia. The below map summarizes the Chinese presence abroad, in terms of its FDI.

‘We risk a domino effect’, according to the analysis of the chief economist at Coface,

Julien Marcilly. ‘If china has a lesser need for primary resources, it will invest less in angola, for example, while Beijing will continue to invest in tech or in other domains with high added value in Europe’. All the while, according to this institution, many african countries are highly dependent on the Middle Kingdom for growth, like south sudan, Gambia, Guinea, the congo, Mauritania or angola. ‘The countries that have the most profited from the expansion of China should be the most severely hit’ by its slowdown warned Coface in 2017 with a study classifying African countries with respect to their reliance on China. François Godement confirms this view in reminding us that ‘ if slowdown becomes the norm, the great infrastructure projects will go down in turn, and China will have a lesser need to invest abroad’, in particular in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative.

3-Debt: the double-edged sword

China makes large loans to emerging countries to finance their development... and gets

important advantages in return. ‘This enables Beijing to make sure it has access to a stable 

source of primary resources exports from Africa’, explains Julien Marcilly, who speaks of the ‘consideration explicit or implicit to the loan deals made’ with emergents. In recent years, we 

have many examples: Angola paid back part of its debt of two billion Euros to China with oil, 

and a similar strategy was used in Nigeria as well as South Sudan. ‘Often the countries who have debts towards China are those that have let them import primary resources’, points out the expert.

This strategy goes through, notably, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB),

working arm of this new Silk Road, as well as the China Development Bank (CDB), both public institutions. Debt is thus a double-edged weapon, helping along the development of nations but all the while making their sovereignty more fragile. The most spectacular example comes out of Sri Lanka: in 2008, China put up 307 million dollars of the 360 million necessary for the construction of a new commercial port in Hambantota. Seven years later, the government is no longer capable of paying back the loan to Beijing. Back to the wall, it finally turns over a concession of the port to the China Merchants Port Holdings for 99 years. The Middle Kingdom in this way acquires a strategic point

on world commercial routes. There has been no checking of appetite since then: a multi-million Euros investment was announced just last year... interestingly for a project near the port of Hambantota.

4-Tourism: the great windfall

Last concern: Asia is, by far, the continent that profits the most from the presence of Chinese tourists. According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), twenty countries were the main hosts to visitors from the Middle Kingdom in 2017. Among these, Thailand (9.8 million), Japan (7.3 million), South Korea (4.1 million), Singapore (3.5 million), Taiwan (2.7 million), Malaysia (2.2 million) and Indonesia (2.0 million) get the lion’s share but remain well short of Macau (22.1 million), and most of all Hong Kong (44.4 million). Considered among the heavy spenders, the Chinese are sought after by rich countries, including France, who want to profit from this windfall. In total, according to the WTO, 130 million Chinese went abroad, a significantly growing number. 

Tourism is not incompatible with economic slowdown’, points out Julien Marcilly. everything depends on the sectors touched by downturn: the upper middle classes or higher strata of society could very well not feel the pinch of sluggish growth.

Synthetic

In France, only the police are allowed to use drones and these are
being integrated into crowd control. They are coupled with synthetic DNA,
which is an invisible chemical marker (which becomes visible under
ultraviolet light). Plan is to spray Black Bloc individuals and 'see' where
they are dispersed in the crowd.

https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2019/03/22/acte-xix-des-gilets-jaunes-ce-que-lutilisation-de-drones-dit-de-levolution-du-maintien-de-lordre_a_23698738/?utm_hp_ref=fr-homepage

https://www.liberation.fr/evenements-libe/2013/11/04/la-police-mise-sur-l-adn-synthetique_944437

                                                     *     *     *

source: Le Monde

Disco

People on the internet do get upset when they feel
someone is 'doing it wrong' and there have been complaints
that someone trying to loose weight eating such a meal
is off the rails. Let's look at this.

From the point of view of calories, the estimates I have seen
seem too high. A baked potato from the oven without any additions
might be 150 calories; the sausages, whatever it says on the
packet. If one has fried anything, one tablespoon of oil is 120 calories,
so if half is left in the pan, one adds 60 to the meal. Food doesn't just get
horrendous expensive if it looks appetizing, like blondes at the
Discothech. It's math.

My own reaction to this meal is that it lacks the little touches that make
it sustainable. Add shredded lettuce and lemon juice all over that; have
a nice orange for dessert, and a small glass of 2% milk.

The manner in which I might change this is with the food combinations
involved. It is both high protein and high carb at the same time. The problem
with that is that it will be long and difficult to digest, and will lead to bloating;
thus not very rewarding on the scales. So it is wiser to have a keto-leaning meal,
some time interval, and a vegan-inspired one later. Not looking for dramatic life
changes, just finding balance. One can soft-land to better habits in this manner!

Rayley Waves

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/03/surface-trembling-detected-mars-first-time

Uhm

As a Canadian used to Parliamentary government, the whole Brexit saga has
been a little surreal to me: how could there be repeated votes with members of the
governing party voting against a bill in total impunity. Either they resign, or the
government falls where I live. But no, on it went...

Political parties have no legal standing as such, but in practice they are deemed essential
to the very possibility of smooth government. They are also meant to be the conduits
through which citizens can bring forth their ideas. The party platform is then what
candidates promise to the electorate.

The Brexit referendum was enacted by the Conservatives as a non-binding one, ie
'indicative' but the government of the day did promise to act on the result. In the
referendum campaign, the Labour opposition politely campaigned as a block for
REMAIN since Premier Cameron was using the referendum to confirm his negotiated
deal with the EU. Conservatives were left to campaign in either the LEAVE or REMAIN
camps because they were meant to lead the debate. UHM...

Back in government with Mrs May, the conservative MPs have continued to free
vote on the various LEAVE proposals while the Opposition attempts to hold rank -
with the loss of a few members, thus the current impasse. There is no clean resolution
in sight.

The real choices, in my humble opiion.
1- The government votes for the deal as a party.
2- The government admits it cannot deliver Brexit, and revokes article 50.
3- The government asks for an extended delay, and calls an election.

These may not be the options being considered but the Conservative negotiated
deal was refused by the Referendum. The Opposition gets to play!

Fountains

Harmony

I'm in! It's JSB's birthday, and Google is the best with a
harmony program. I slaved on Bach's harmonies for years
as a music student and I cried with happiness to find this...

Thank you, Google!

Stadia

It's the buzz of the moment in the tech world: Google's new
Stadia gaming model that puts the gameplay on its web architecture
for anywhere, anytime, anyhow gaming. Truly revolutionarybecause
its games are accessible even on phones, which opens up the India/Asia
market. It is also a challenge to developers because one might grow million
participant simultaneous gaming...

Below, the Journal de Montreal in San Francisco at the Dev Conf:

https://www.journaldemontreal.com/jai-teste-stadia-de-google-et-cest-tres-prometteur

Non symmetrical

Just read about the 1,49 billion dollar fine given to
Google by the EU this morning; the latest one. That is
a lot of money. This is an aspect of Brexit very little
discussed: the EU costs a lot, but it is also capable of
bringing in a lot of revenue. It is a supranational organization,
and its elected representatives do not speak as reps for
national governments, but in their own right for the
nation they are from.

Britain has/had some 70 seats in the EU. That is roughly
the number of seats from Quebec in Canada's Parliament. Such
a number can get quite a lot of work done. In contrast, Quebec's
Provincial Government has 129. It is a more humble assembly,
although both levels have a Royal stand-in as Head of State.

Nigel Farage seems the central protagonist for Brexit, but does
he realize that being repeatedly refused a seat at Westminster, and
having to make do with one on the EU, he was being kicked upstairs
by the electorate? That does look like a promotion from here. He
also famously refused joining in to give Prince Charles a standing
ovation for a speech on Climate Change to the EU. In principle, he was
right; the views expressed by the Prince should have been harmonized
with that of the UK's Parlementarians.

Water under the bridge, no doubt. But in the interest of getting Brexit
off the ground, I would see Westminster considering non-symmetrical
advances ie they legislate the border rules they want, and the EU
responds!

                          *     *     *

SPRING

A lot of astronomical action today: Spring starts
at 5:58 pm ET.🌷 And...

BDAY_2019

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo is pretty upset. Thirty-five Saturdays
and Sundays in a row have seen violence and attacks on public
installations and storefronts on the Champs Élysés. What does
the government intend to do about this?

Hey, there is a plan! Demonstrations will no longer be allowed
on that particular avenue...

Looks like my daughter Lyse will be having another camping
vacation this year. Not so bad, she does come back thin and
clear-eyed. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Lyse.



                                  *     *     *
Cake for breakfast:

Burgers for tea:

It was a mother-daughter day 💕

Binges (2)

I did manage to go off popato chips in a rather dramatic
fashion. It was a permanent fix for me, and has freed me of
savory food compulsions from then on. It was also pretty
crazy behavior on my part, something I have never told anyone.
Who better to share this with than the WWW? Here goes...

It was a difficult time in my life and I was living alone. 11 am and
I hadn't eaten yet;  I was tempted to reach for a large bag of
potato chips purchased 'on sale' the day before. One doesn't always
notice when one's behaviour goes off the rails, but this time I did.
In fact, I realized that reaching for chips at that moment would have
amounted to addictive behavior, eating for pleasure instead of facing
some unpleasant aspects of my current situation. I really wanted
those chips, which is how I knew this was dangerous. I decided I was
going to win the round, and conquer my addictions.

I have always been a careful money manager, and I was brought up to be
thankful for food, and respectful of nature's bounty. I took the bag of chips and
threw it on the ground. I then proceeded to crush it with my foot, and stomp
on it with one foot, and then two. All the time releasing my frustration and rage
at being controlled, mocked, ignored and my own displeasure at myself for
not having been stronger in the past. I also ordered myself to do this again if
I ever bought another bag of these wretched things. That was it. I then broomed
up the mess and proceeded with my day.

Not long thereafter, I registered for German Language classes, which filled
up my days and advanced me itellectually. End of tale.

I really don't know if this little story might be of use to anyone else; because
what looks like a bad eating wrinkle might be hiding some serious therapy-
worthy issues. I am quite well-read about therapy and gave myself a
warpspeed moment. For what it's worth.

Moralistic

Call me an old fogey, but I find discussions about weight
loss and loose skin utterly  Byzantine.  The underlying assumption
seems to be moralistic, that somehow the horror of loose skin will
be visited on those who have been fatter, as a marker of divine
displeasure. That's just plain silly. We have evolved as creatures
capable of storing fat and using it in later times, and there is no reason
to believe our skin didn't get the memo. Seriously.

Our bodies do change as we age, our skeletons settle, and each cycle
of repair and replacement becomes a little different, until we encounter
cellular information loss on a grand scale in old age. That is a
natural death. Thirthy is the cut off age.

So let us consider what might be going on.

Here is a story from my personal experience. My right arm  was feeling
stiff on humid days last winter (from a previous fall on ice) and I found a
five minute routine on YouTube that seemed to move the arms in all directions.
It was one of those 'Let's get rid of those Bingo Wings, ladies' routines.
I did the routine maybe ten times all told, and do some of the moves
as a needed stetch. For days I've been feeling this odd tightness in my
upper arms, and the lag feeling on the underarm is no longer there. On
checking in the mirror, lo and behold, my bingo wings are gone!! I've
got tight little upper arms, something I've never known in my entire life.
How amazing is that.

Moral of the story: gravity works against you but also for you. The body
is a wonderful thing.

Muy T

From Libération:

St Patrick's

Because it is St Patrick's Day, much celebrated here in America, I
upgraded breakfast by frying my Eggos in oil instead of the standard
toaster procedure. Looks pretty good.

Have I re-invented the donut?  We'll know at ten, which is my bkft window!




Actually, no. It tastes like what its: a fried buttermilk pastry.
Absolutely delicious with fruit and yogurt. But I won't be making
this too often; had to air out the apartment to get the fried oil
odor out. 🙎

Isabelle C.

The YouTube video below is not trivial. It is a documentary
about eating disorders, and we get to meet Isabelle Caro,
the young anorexic woman whose naked poster many will
recognize.

The storyline is dramatic: at 5'6" and 66 pounds, her daily life
is a long ritual of not eating, in terror of gaining anything. The
ending is more promising, she puts on 1 kilo over 30 days and
answers a modeling ad from a renowned photographer 'for an
anorexic'. 'It is a great day ' she says wrily, but her smile is genuine
and I felt happy for her.

Researching what happened to her, I learned she had died
a year later 'from exhaustion'. She had become a celebrity, travelling
the world over. Her mother - whom she resembled  and was very thin -
killed herself soon after. Isabelle had no doubt realized her mother's
own aspiration to celebrity, because one only carries things to extremes
out of love.

Meet Isabelle:

Binges(1)

Evening food binges - especially of sweet foods - is a diet pitfall

for many. One is tired, and vulnerable to feel good experiences. 

There is, for me, a protocol that works. It consists of eating my allowed

food, and instead of going for more, dropping a few gulps of 2% milk

in a whiskey glass. One sips it slowly while doing rounds in the apartment,

teeth brush, bed. It is a knock out and the next day on is amazed to

remember one was even tempted. What kind of craziness was that?

It has to be real moo, with some fat in it. Cow’s milk is naturally sweet,

but less so than human milk. If one is consuming sweets, that milk will 

recalibrate one and then, it’s sleep time, like a baby.

A salty foods binge is something else. I’ll share about that tomorrow...

New Zealand

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8642007/new-zealand-mosque-shooting-manifesto-anders-breivik/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/christchurch-mosque-hero-tackled-gunman-14140501

Eco-Demo

https://www.liberation.fr/la-solidarite-a-bras-le-coeur/2019/03/13/nous-devons-nous-emanciper-de-libertes-artificielles-construites-par-le-capitalisme_1714542

Mindful

Oh, and don't forget to close the kitchen! Long
experience with diet success - and failure - can be
found here. Just like it is useful to make a rule about
when and what to have for breakfast; it is a security
blanket: a nice cup of something and a comforting bite
coming soon, it is equally important to know when and
with what the eating day will end.

I remember being surprised to learn a few years ago how
an aristocratic couple in Europe - not sure who they were -
invariably shared a herbal tea before bed. They were slim
and looked good.

I live alone and the game changer for me is to not eat or
drink anything in the bedroom. My third meal of the day, often
with milk or a bit of sweetness, is taken like the other two sitting
quietly or in front of a computer word game.  I have had my bath
by this time, and I am nodding off anyway. Even if I am still
researching or following a news item from bed, it needs to be
sans.... Anything else is an invitation to chaos.

Each person is free to choose their own ritual, but enjoying and
concentrating on meals as such  is essential. This is mindfulness.

Brexit du Jour

With respect to travel on the Eurostar tunnel:

https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2019/03/05/brexit-l-eurostar-une-autre-paire-de-manche_1713111

Click

My age is showing again, but I was somewhat shocked
to lean that France had recently voted in a referendum on
a preference for  permanent Summer Hours and was notifying
the EU of this result (not really sure what happens next; all countries
were asked to report in). And then last night read how a number
of American states are thinking of going Summer as well. How weird!

High noon is the sun at its highest (overhead) position at noon. This
is standard time, and I was happy and proud to learn this as a child.
Makes sense.  I dutifully turned off at 9 pm last night and still only woke
up at 7:50 this morning. My natural waking time is 6:50, which I hit
with great regularity. I'm foggy-brained and off from having moved the clocks
to Summer Hours and slept so much.

Why make an issue of this? Humans are not plants, responding chemically
to sunlight to initiate growth. We kinda like sleeping in, enjoy a little drinkie on
the terrace after work and don't mind long evenings. But I can't help but
feel sad for future generations loosing that 'click'  of comprehension on how
we mark time.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/09/opinions/daylight-saving-time-yates/index.html

S. Law

source: Le journal de Montreal

author: Loïc Tassé

translation: doxa-louise

SNC-Lavalin: the government complicit in corruption

One of the most short-sighted laws in effect in Canada is that which

forbids Canadian enterprises from using corruption to obtain contracts abroad. Such a law also exists in other democratic countries. But it is often gleefully ignored.

The problem with this law is that the great majority of countries in this world operate on corruption. If one is to believe the corruption ratings of Transparency International, only some fifty countries out of 180 deserve a rating over 50%. Among utterly corrupt countries, under the 50% bar, we find Italy, African countries, Cuba, Romania, India, China, Turkey, Pakistan and so forth.

Practicing corruption without getting caught

What should one think of international enterprises dealing with these countries? Are they white as snow? Of course not. Many international students have often explained to me that Masters level classes in Business could well bear the title: How to practice corruption without getting caught.

The situation is ridiculous to the point where the international enterprises of the planet’s greatest economic power, China, won’t hesitate to use corruption to obtain contracts in foreign lands.

Libya is notoriously corrupt

So SNC-Lavalin obtained contracts in Libya. Libya ranks 11th on the most corrupt countries list. The country was such under Kadhafi. Could even one company obtain contracts in Libya without kickbacks? It is possible to think not. SNC-Lavalin played the game like everyone else.

Naivety

Of course, in the eyes of the law, the corruption of others is no excuse. The problem is that in the name of fighting corruption, naive individuals, yet well-intentioned, decided to forbid democratic little-corrupt countries to use kickbacks to sign contracts abroad. As a result, corruption has gone underground and companies from more realistic countries have had free play with openly corrupt countries,. All this because for certain righteous individuals, corruption is first and foremost the fault of western countries.

Corruption comes from within

But the truth of the matter is that corruption emanates from the countries in which it is found. No international company will ever dream of using corruption to land a contract in Denmark. that country is the least corrupt in the world. whereas in Haiti, this consideration will be among the first considered.

A serious crime

Corruption is a serious crime. Canada should never under any circumstance tolerate this within its own borders. but imposing this condition on Canadian enterprises working abroad in corrupt countries is ridiculous and moralistic.

The solution

The solution consists in letting each country regulate tis own market. That Canadian and other companies engage in corruption in countries where this is the rule is not grounds for outrage. The law which forbids Canadian enterprises from using corruption abroad should be amended to allow these practices in very corrupt countries.

Government complicity

If not, then the Canadian government should forbid Canadian companies from selling their products in approximately 130 countries on this planet. Yet, the Canadian government does the contrary, it encourages companies such as SNC-Lavalin to work everywhere in the world, including notoriously

corrupt countries. In this context, the Canadian government has encouraged - hypocritically - SNC-Lavalin engaging in corruption in countries such as Libya. The Canadian government is guilty of complicity in the SNC-Lavalin Libya affair.

                                          *     *     *

https://www.osler.com/en/blogs/risk/september-2018/deferred-prosecution-agreements-dpas-come-into-force-in-canada

                                          *     *     *

B for Brexit

Who knows!?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/the-more-we-learn-about-brexit-the-more-crooked-it-looks/2019/03/08/b011517c-411c-11e9-922c-64d6b7840b82_story.html?utm_term=.d3e9e0f9e864


                                   *     *     *

HAPPY WD

                                           *     *     *


A vote of confidence for Michael:

http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2019/03/07/03004-20190307ARTFIG00195-ma-nuit-magique-avec-michael-jackson-a-neverland-le-temoignage-d-un-fan-francais.php

Someone

The new Champlain bridge is almost complete, and it is
a beauty. Indeed, taking the bus to Montreal from the old
bridge one could see it go up, day after day, pillar after pillar.
It was a welcome sight. (It is bigger, and safer. There has actually
been a large truck falling on its side from the wind on the old).

Does look like someone forgot to prosecute SNC-Lavalin when
it came time to build this. Would have been 2015...

                                       *     *     *

Culture

Probably the most infuriating time of year is when,
yes the days are getting longer and it is sunny, but it is
still brutally cold. Two more days of this, and we are
OUT!

Success

100 Day Weight Loss with daily weigh-in:

1. After you've weighed-in, thank yourself. It was hard
to do this, and you have just done something positive.
This is a win!!

2.Yes, counting calories is necessary, but it is not sufficient.
Counting calories starting from candy will lead to a mad binge...
It comes down to recognizing proper portions of healthy foods:
EITHER two scrambled eggs with lettuce; one fried egg with
shaved ham; one boiled egg on buttered toast. Each version, with
a cup of tea, is 200 calories. That's breakfast and lunch is at least
4 hours away!!

3. If you feel the urge to eat off-plan, or at an inappropriate time,
consider this: you've done that already (that is, made a self-indulgent
choice) and you know where it leads; to where you are now. So make
the other choice, and stick to plan!!

That's it!!

Die-Hard

I really don't have it in for Tony Blair, but some things
just need to be noticed. In a week-end piece for the Guardian,
he presents the hard Brexit option as a Canada-like deal
with the EU. For Canada, negotiations for CETA started
with Stephen Harper and the Conservatives,  and got signed by
the Trudeau Liberals. And here is the kicker: we thought all along
we were getting the UK as part of the deal. Even in die-hard Francophone
Quebec, where I live, we quite appreciate English shortbread cookies
on the shelves at Christmas.

I am also quite surprised that the whole debate centers on trade arrangements,
when the EU covers so much more, to name the space program as an
example. The EU is a debating and voting body, while ESA is not (Canada is an
ESA associate). Developments in space are accelerating - given the entry of
many non-European countries in space activities...Has the hope of having the
EU take over ESA been abandonned?

Finally, I am totally surprised by the absence of a voice for the Lords in all
this. When I was in school (granted, in the political Pleistocene), an Upper
Chamber was the place for 'sober second thougths'. Would it not make sense
for that Chamber to take on the job of looking at options for the backstop,
or even the need for a second consultation. Just saying...

They're Hot

Lyse (the Gas Station Hot Dogs) now have a YouTube channel, and
a new song. To subscribe:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ivVYYfRAtc

Before

Was reading on MSN about the difference between psychopaths
and sociopaths (the latter are more impulsive). So, I'm basically
a  psycho... Or maybe, just old. Sh... does add up over the years.

On that note, I'm going shopping before all the fun Spring clothes
go.

M Gras

March 5 this year is Mardi Gras, the one day of the year when
eating donuts, crêpes, whatever is okay. I have fond memories of
boozy crêpes from the streets of Pais. Below, how they are made.



http://madame.lefigaro.fr/recettes/crepes-citron-comme-italie-250108-6709

Encore (Acte XVI)

https://www.liberation.fr/debats/2019/02/24/whiteness-studies-il-etait-une-fois-les-blancs_1711379