Who is this distinguished Schrödinger's cat who could help us to find ways to put this wild, imperialist world back on track?

“In 1935, the brilliant Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger concocted a mind-bending thought experiment that would forever change our understanding of quantum mechanics—enter Schrödinger's cat. This whimsical scenario was designed to shed light on the baffling concept of superposition, showcasing the oddities and contradictions that lie within the realm of quantum theory. Picture this: a cat is snugly tucked away in a sealed box, accompanied by a radioactive atom, a Geiger counter, a vial of poison, and a hammer. If the Geiger counter picks up radiation, it signals the hammer to smash the vial, sealing the cat's fate. But if no radiation is detected, the feline remains blissfully alive. According to the quirky rules of quantum mechanics, the radioactive atom exists in a state of both decay and non-decay until someone takes a peek. Consequently, the cat is caught in a surreal limbo of being both alive and dead until the box is opened and the truth is revealed. Schrödinger's cat paradox serves as a captivating illustration of the strange, counterintuitive world of quantum mechanics, where a system can dance between multiple realities until it is observed.

Glory, glory, hallelujah! Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Seas In The Reality Of This Mad World…

Without a doubt, we should kick things off by chatting about cats!

The writting works of Germán & Co are entirely their own, with all rights reserved.

Indeed, Felines, provided that individuals do not suffer from allergies or hold superstitions, and are comfortable with the potential for abandonment without prior signs of emotional distress.  Of course, cats have intricately intertwined with human history, leaving a lasting legacy. A notable exploration of their historical significance can be observed in ancient Egypt, particularly during the era of the pharaohs.  Cleopatra, an iconic figure of this civilization, with her concealed grave, she has become a haunting enigma for countless archaeologists, desperately searching for clues to uncover its secrets.  Cleopatra is frequently associated with cats, not merely as pets but as revered divine entities. This reverence is linked to the goddess Bastet, who represented home, fertility, and protection. The esteem in which cats were held was such that any harm inflicted upon them, even inadvertently, was considered a serious transgression. Their importance was further underscored by the practice of mummification, as cats were often interred alongside their human counterparts. Additionally, cats have been recognized for their prowess in hunting, serving as effective deterrents against rodent populations, thereby safeguarding food supplies for ancient mariners and agrarians alike. Unfortunately, these beloved companions were unable to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Furthermore, cats have permeated various mythologies and folklore, leaving indelible marks across cultures. In Norse mythology, the goddess Freyja is depicted as riding a chariot drawn by these captivating animals, while in Japan, the "maneki-neko," or beckoning cat, has emerged as a cherished emblem of luck and prosperity.  In contemporary society, amidst prevailing uncertainties, millions seek comfort and companionship in their feline companions. Throughout history, cats have inspired a multitude of artists and writers, from ancient frescoes to the imaginative realms of Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," where the Cheshire Cat's enigmatic smile enchants audiences, demonstrating the enduring influence of these creatures on creativity and imagination.

The cultural significance of three emblematic felines in popular culture, cannot be forget.  The first, is "Fritz the Cat," a pioneering American adult animated black comedy film released in 1972 and directed by Ralph Bakshi.  Audiences worldwide formed long lines to attend screenings of what was heralded as the first pornographic animated feature. The character Fritz, a clever, womanizing, and duplicitous cat, navigates an anthropomorphized version of New York City during the wild and tumultuous 1960s, particularly in locales reminiscent of Club 51.

The second feline is not merely a cat but represents the essence of the distinguished Felidae family. "The Tiger of Sweden," authored by Aron Flam in 2019, is an insightful examination of Sweden's complex political landscape during World War II.  The book elucidates the government's strategies, trade negotiations, and close the ayes when the Nazi invasion of Norway. 

Lastly, I would like to highlight the work of one of Japan's most renowned authors, Natsume Sōseki, celebrated for his literary depictions of cats. His novel "I Am a Cat," published in 1905, is a satirical narrative that offers a distinctive perspective on Japanese society through the observations of a housecat.  The story is recounted by the cat, who critiques and reflects on human behavior with a blend of humor and insight. 

One may ponder how Fritz's cat, the "Tiger of Sweden," and Sōseki's cat would perceive the uncertain and madness of the contemporary world.  We can describe their importance in contemporary history in the following manner: Fritz the Cat explores the complexities and contradictions of American society.  While its content may seem frivolous and explicit, Fritz's adventures provide a satirical and critical examination of issues such as race relations, political activism, and the counterculture movement of the 1960s. This exploration aligns with the existential anxieties depicted in the film "Easy Rider" (1969), which addresses disillusionment and the quest for freedom in America. 

In "The Tiger of Sweden," Aron Flam critically examines Sweden's actions during World War II.  The metaphor of the tiger underscores the nation's strength as well as its complex historical role during a chaotic period. Flam's work reveals the darker aspects of Sweden's perceived neutrality and encourages readers to confront uncomfortable truths, reflecting the complexities of contemporary geopolitics. The following is a significant consideration: which entities can be considered neutral in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine? This inquiry pertains to countries such as China, Iran, Turkey, North Korea, and Western nations.

Sōseki's satirical novel featuring a nameless cat provides a unique perspective on Japanese society. Through the cat's observations and critiques of human behavior, the story offers timeless commentary on social norms, individualism, and the absurdities of everyday life.

In conclusion, each cat, in its own way, serves as a mirror, reflecting the complexities and uncertainties of the world and encouraging us to look beyond the surface for deeper reflection.

And now back to the concept of Schrödinger's cat serves as a metaphor for the future of the electric industry and fuel sources. In this analogy, the "box" signifies the present condition of the electric sector and its dependence on various fuel types, while the "cat" represents the prospective state of energy production. The future remains in a state of superposition—simultaneously reliant on conventional fuels and fully integrating renewable energy sources—until we "open the box" and assess the implications of ongoing technological innovations, policy modifications, and market fluctuations.

Several factors contribute to this uncertainty. Firstly, advancements in technology, such as improvements in battery efficiency, solar and wind power capabilities, and other renewable energy innovations, can profoundly influence the trajectory of the electric industry. Secondly, governmental policies and regulations play a pivotal role in shaping the energy landscape, including incentives for renewable energy adoption and regulations governing fossil fuels. Thirdly, market dynamics, characterized by the economic feasibility of various energy sources, are affected by supply and demand, global events, and investment patterns, which will ultimately guide the industry's evolution. Lastly, environmental considerations, particularly the increasing awareness of climate change and its ramifications, will continue to propel the shift towards cleaner energy alternatives.

Until these factors align and a definitive course is charted, the future of the electric industry and fuel sources remains ambiguous, akin to the scenario presented by Schrödinger's cat. The eventual outcome will be contingent upon the interaction of these elements and the collective actions undertaken by governments, businesses, and individuals. Good night and have a pleasant new week.

Finally, let's conclude on a positive note. In literature, there is a style known as micro-tales, which involves writing a story that is fewer than three hundred words. This week, I enjoyed reading an outstanding one, "Never Can Forgive You," written by my fellow "paisana" from Alsace, Rachel Rotschild. Her work was inspired by the tale "The Revenge," written by the Irish author Winston Wallace Smith. Enjoy!

"Never Can Forgive You”

Their love was a vibrant dance, a symphony of shared glances brimming with passion. His gaze lit up her world when they were together, wrapping her in a cocoon of beauty and joy.  Days drifted by, each one reflecting her confidence and happiness. Their connection was a beautiful surrender, a bond pulsating with life. But as the years meandered on, time began to feel like a slow, dragging tide.

Then, one fateful day, she sensed the flicker of their flame dimming. His once adoring gaze now held a hint of disdain, and she avoided his eyes, fearing the piercing arrows of heartbreak.  Panic gripped her heart at the thought of losing him. In a desperate bid to reignite the spark, she adorned herself in alluring attire, even baring her soul in vulnerability, but nothing stirred his heart as it once did.

Her anguish morphed into a relentless storm of resentment and fury.  She plotted her revenge, determined to bring him down. One day, she caught him off guard, and with a swift, merciless strike, she unleashed her wrath. As he lay there, defeated, she felt the weight of his past humiliations pressing down on her.  A wild, hysterical laugh echoed through the house, sending shivers down the spine.

Her daughter rushed in, eyes wide with fear, only to be met with the aftermath of chaos. In that moment of devastation, she was rendered speechless.  But then he stirred, his eyes wide with terror as he approached her, whispering, “Mom, what have you done with the mirror?”

In this edition, you will find: “Trump is desperate for more energy, as long as it’s not from the wind / TWP By Evan Halper and Maxine JoselowJanuary 23, 2025.

The Owner of Non-Man and Other Tales… Second edition, revised and expanded…

Help us make a dream come true…

From a young age we listen to the instructions of the elderly in the sense that we must be able to choose our path in life. It's a nice metaphor.

There are those who, complying with this, prepare themselves to travel the highways of life, provide themselves with fast engines and soft seats.   Others, simpler, choose secondary roads where the speed does not produce so much vertigo and the tolls are cheaper. Many have to join forces and travel the kilometers in collective buses that force the touches and strident music. And there are too many who have no other option than to walk along the humble paths crossing puddles or boulders and threatened by wild beasts or insects. This is the vineyard of the Lord, and everyone can make use of their free will. Say.

Reading the stories of Germán Toro Ghio one discovers that there are also those who chose all paths. And they also added the alternatives of lifts, elevators (and descenders), cliffs, flying devices and perhaps how many more.

With its eight stories, The Owners of No Man's Land takes us to a world so real that, unfortunately, we tend to forget it.  From the first story, he (Germán) rides the maelstrom of a roller coaster in which he mixes the discomforts of a Moscow hotel with the adventures in the Nicaraguan jungle.  He is a de facto witness to the invasion of the USA army in Panama and his cousin of millenary stubbornness at the same time, without us being able to deduce which of the two experiences was more dangerous.  He celebrates supposed birthdays in the company of an aphonic Fidel Castro (what a contradiction!) in a city of Havana corroded by sea salt or political blunders.  He walks through one of the most unusual borders in the world, the one that divides the island of Hispaniola.   He witnesses the sun sheltering us with unusual loves, in this case, his friend "Pepe" who, on a streak of good fortune, attracts them to a stale gypsy princess and a one-eyed gypsy king in the nights of Madrid and prologues his luck in the world of love to an island called Grinda in the Stockholm archipelago where Alexander's honey captivates.

Germán also takes us to a café in Paris where Ernest Hemingway is in existential conversations about life, accompanied by the sweet notes of a Santa Teresa rum, which invades the soul with harmony and helps the journalist and writer try to persuade some young gang members to change the course of their lives, in this world of violence, organ trafficking, and arms.  He evokes the spirit of the Nicaraguan poet and priest Ernesto Cardenal, particularly in his mesmerising "Ode to Marilyn Monroe".  This remarkable work invites him to explore the labyrinth of the mind's afflictions, guided by the brushstrokes of legendary artists such as Sorolla, Munch, Botero, and Modigliani.  Alongside this artistic journey, we encounter the candid whispers of Truman Capote in his poignant "Unanswered Prayers", which lays bare the frailties of our contemporary society, political systems, and monarchies.  Ultimately, Germán leads us to a heartwarming conclusion with the charming figure of "il Nono", a grandfatherly character we all wish we could have known.

The book is magnified by experiences that have taken place outside the battlefields, far from palaces and ambitions.  In other words, the principle of freedom of expression is paramount, even when individuals may endure defamation's repercussions.  With these stories, Germán Toro Ghio allows us to taste something of everything he keeps in his cupboard, and I hope he will continue to cook and deliver in successive books.

*Juan Forch, Puerto Octay, Chile

*Film director, writer, and political scientist is renowned for the 1990 "NO" campaign. / https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/movies/oscar-nominated-no-stirring-debate-in-chile.html

PayPal at gjmtoroghio@germantoroghio.com

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O gods, women, and men with the souls of gods and goodwill, we request your solidarity and support for launching the second revised and extended edition of "The Owner of Non-Man Lan and Other Tales" in November 2025. We have already contacted a senior editor at Penguin Random House in London to help us create a remarkable and distinctive book handcrafted to serve as an exceptional corporate gift.

Thanks in advance...

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Not Angela, not...

Trump is desperate for more energy, as long as it’s not from the wind

The president halted new federal wind leasing, even as he declared a national energy emergency that cites demand for more power…

TWP By Evan Halper and Maxine JoselowJanuary 23, 2025

The massive wind installation Dominion Energy is building off the coast of Virginia is one of the company’s biggest projects, promising to provide enough clean electricity for 660,000 homes in a region where power demand is soaring.

Now, President Donald Trump has put the future of that project and others like it in jeopardy. The president this week signed an executive order that halts new leases for wind turbines in federal waters and directs officials to review existing offshore leases and other green energy supports. The moves cloud the outlook for projects like Dominion’s, which the company may seek to expand on an adjoining federal lease.

Cutting production of wind power is perhaps the most paradoxical aspect of Trump’s sweeping plan to reorient America’s energy economy, which he and his energy team contend will lower costs for consumers while boosting the amount of electricity available for economic growth.

Energy economists said they are puzzled by the new administration’s math. Trump’s executive order threatens eight other offshore wind projects that developers have on the drawing board but have not yet begun building, including those off the coasts of Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey.

“Closing down access to this potentially large energy resource seems at odds with their goals,” said Ben Cahill, an energy markets scholar at the University of Texas at Austin. “It is discordant with this overall posture of ‘build, baby, build’ and adding things to the grid.”

But in the Trump era, “drill, baby, drill” — his shorthand for escalation in fossil fuel production — takes priority over building a diverse portfolio of energy sources. The offshore wind directive was part of a flurry of executive orders that largely scrap the climate goals of the Biden era.

Trump’s plan calls for “terminating the Green New Deal,” cutting billions of dollars in funding for electric car charging stations and other clean energy projects. It lays the groundwork for a vast expansion of liquefied natural gas exports. It seeks to dramatically boost oil production. And it promises to supplant what Trump calls an “intermittent energy supply” made unreliable by wind and solar generation with one more reliant on fossil fuels.

“President Trump’s ‘energy dominance’ vision will end wars abroad and make life more affordable for every family by driving down inflation,” former North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, Trump’s nominee to run the Interior Department and a newly formed White House energy council, said at his confirmation hearing last week.

Economists said Trump’s moves risk more disruption than benefit. The U.S. economy already relies on renewable power for more than 20 percent of its energy. Oil companies are not even looking to drill more, concerned about disrupting markets with a glut of fuel. And Trump’s robust support for gas export terminals could send much of the nation’s natural gas supply abroad, which would potentially limit future U.S. supplies and raise prices.

“For the power sector, the things he is doing could actually end up increasing costs to consumers,” said Paasha Mahdavi, director of the Energy Governance and Political Economy Lab at the University of California at Santa Barbara. “If the goal is to create a modern, stable and reliable power grid, a lot of these things do not help get us there.”

With the United States deep into the energy transition and renewable installations surging, many experts are skeptical of another declaration Trump made on Monday: that the country is in a “national energy emergency.” That executive order could allow the administration to quickly approve new pipelines and other fossil fuel infrastructure, potentially by waiving landmark environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act.

It is certain to face legal challenges from opponents who argue the emergency Trump is declaring is an illusion. Critics also question the conflicting nature of his directive.

“Declaring an energy emergency while blocking wind and solar — our fastest-growing and most cost-effective energy sources — is like sounding a fire alarm and then saying you can’t call the fire department,” said Brendan Bell, chief operating officer of the investment firm Aligned Climate Capital, in a statement.

The energy emergency declaration relies heavily on concerns about an explosion of power-guzzling data centers, the engines of artificial intelligence development that can individually consume as much electricity as a midsize U.S. city. It invokes the president’s authority under the National Emergencies Act, which Trump used in 2019 to speed construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Tech companies say they desperately need more energy to build more data centers, counting on wind and solar energy alongside natural gas to power them. Many of the firms have made aggressive and very public commitments to cancel out their emissions, and they are eager to access more clean electricity.

“The idea that we are in some kind of national energy emergency is misguided,” said Severin Borenstein, an energy economist at the University of California at Berkeley. He said gas prices at the pump are at their historical average, natural gas is close to as cheap as it’s ever been (inflation adjusted), and increases in electricity prices in most of the country have tracked with the cost of living.

While Trump’s initial actions largely spared the solar industry, developers of those projects remain on edge. The orders halt distribution of billions of dollars in funding from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which authorized some grants for solar projects. Trump’s targeting of “intermittent” forms of energy in his emergency declaration suggests solar will be vulnerable. Congress is now weighing whether to cut lucrative incentives that support both industrial-scale solar farms and residential rooftop solar to pay for the tax break package Trump champions.

Fossil fuel companies lauded Trump’s orders, which lift regulations they find burdensome. Yet industry experts say it is unlikely the orders will drive gasoline and diesel prices down by boosting oil production.

“There is a disconnect between what industry wants out of this and what the administration wants,” said Mark Finley, a fellow in energy and global oil at Rice University’s Baker Institute and a former economist at BP. “It is going to help boost profits for some of these companies, but I am skeptical it will make a difference in how much they produce.”

Oil executives have already signaled they do not intend to substantially increase production. While the natural gas industry is looking to extract more, a large volume of that gas is ultimately destined for other countries.