Mars, Paris, Dixie July 10, 2015July 10, 2015 Yesterday: China, Puerto Rico, and the land of Borealis. Today: HOW WE’LL LIVE ON MARS The author says little more than 20 years. But even if it winds up being 50 — or 100! — that’s basically tomorrow. Can’t wait to read the book. IS IT TIME FOR THE JEWS TO LEAVE FRANCE? My great friend Marie Brenner wrote this just-published — riveting — piece for Vanity Fair. Is it beginning all over? Again? I like to think the good people of France will not allow it — just as the good people of South Carolina have decided to lower the flag. THAT FLAG When you read in Vanity Fair about Amedy Coulibaly, who killed four at a Jewish supermarket in Paris . . . and then here, in an impassioned post by Douglas A. Blackmon, about Dylann Roof, who killed nine in a church in Charleston . . . you realize how much they have in common. A black Muslim murderer from Mali; a white Lutheran murderer from South Carolina. Both certain they were doing something good. In a world where such things are possible, we cannot have a backup world soon enough. Just in case the good people of Earth are somehow unable to prevent catastrophe. If only Mars were a little warmer. (But forget Venus!) And, under the cirucmstances, should we change its name from Mars to Pax? *CORRECTION* Mike Martin: “I believe yesterday’s Hunan fireworks video is fake: notice that YouTube describes it as ‘FWSim’ which is software for simulating fireworks displays on your computer.” Oops. But have a great weekend anyway.