It’s the weekend! It sure comes round with a certain regularity, doesn’t it? Unlike the world outside, which veers from crisis to war, from famine to crash, from tsunami to terror. What a mess. Sometimes, the mission to heal the world seems like the Mission Impossible. I admire those who can keep the faith and resolutely stay focused, because I have to tell you, there are times…

OK. Enough philosophy. Time for reality. A mix, for sure, but still reality. Here are this week’s links.

• An essay on Jewish humor, from the 1890s
• Bank of England considers its own Bitcoin
• Israel and Jordan sign historic agreement on water trade
• Knesset candidates in first ever TV debate
• Secret codes to control world economy accidentally tweeted

Shabbat Shalom!