Stromata

Family pic at Damascus Gate

Another day of classes and work. Good thing this morning the chinese sisters brought some dumplings they cooked ... I was very hungry. Then it was a race to get work done in several departments before rushing home for class. I can't wait for summer vacation to start because at least I don't have to teach ... even though I love it. Several more of my students will be defending their theses in the coming days but I will not be attending because of work schedules ... and also because the weather is too hot. Walking 2 kms to school in the 36 degree heat is unbearable.

Washing their snakes
in the fountain

So it's Ramadan and the usual circus is out at Damascus Gate. Every year guys who own snakes bring them out after dinner to have their snakes photographed by people willing t part with their money. Well last night 2 of those guys (there are at least 4 of them) who own 4 pythons brought the snakes to the fountain at Palm Plaza and started washing the snakes in the water. It drew a small crowd and the police stood by watching. It may seem amusing but I wonder how the snakes felt, being moved about and touch and handled by so many people, then dumped in cold water. And there were little children playing in the water as well ... which could have resulted in a nasty accident if the snakes bit them. But it's part of the Ramadan circus ... and people here just let it be. Anyway Ramadan will end next week on Thursday 14th evening.

There has been small clashes around the villages and borders though nothing has happened in Jerusalem itself. But further up north of Jerusalem a teen was shot dead when he threw a stone that hit a soldier on the head. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5280088,00.html

On the other hand, the govt. is going to pump $560 million into the arab part of Jerusalem, upgrading the physical amenities as well as people's skills so they can join the workforce and be productive. That's good, because as long as the social and economic disparity between the jewish west and the arab east widens, there will be no peace. The lesson to learns, once people enjoy a certain standard of living, they don't bother to fight because they risk losing all they have. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5275895,00.html