Who will start the bidding?

With a nod to Maurizio Cattelan, and the phrase, 'a fool and his money are soon parted', I present an homage to "Comedian". The banana and duct tape art installation has just been sold for £4.9M ($6.2M)... well, not the original... that's rotted and been replaced, eaten and been replaced and otherwise replaced...

It's still the original, though... just like grandfather's axe, which has had a new shaft, and a new head, and perhaps a new wedge... but is still grandfathers's axe. My own art installation too will remain constant, even after the gin and tonic and ice have been cunningly blended in.

Six point two million dollars... it is hard to maintain any credence with modern art when something like this happens. I shall entitle my art, "Life sucks"... Like bitcoin, it is absurd. At least this art was supposed to be absurd. Do go large to enjoy it at it's best...

Counterpointing the ridiculous, we now live in a world where an ICBM seems to have been launched in anger against a city. The thing most on my mind now is how this influences the nuclear deterrent. The west has satellites and radar always on the lookout for ICBM launches, and it must have been a squeaky bum time when they saw this one lift, not knowing what it carried...

When next an ICBM lifts, we won't be certain if it is carrying conventional or nuclear payloads. Will that slow our counter-strike? I am not pro-nuclear weapons, and would not be able to use them under any circumstances, but are they an effective deterrent if they are not to be launched instantly the other side fires off?

Regardless, as we sit here wrapped up warmer than usual because the builders have the doors open, I reflect on those people in Ukraine who, in zero or sub-zero temperatures, have no homes, no power, and short rations. For them, life certainly does suck. Please let us find peace.