Featured post

Why can't everyone condemn Hamas?

Following Hamas' atrocities in Israel, the media are awash with commentary, so I will keep my comments short. I am shocked by the willin...

Monday, 3 February 2025

OTG WE 9 Feb 2025

Red Cross Ride-Share

 Here is a humorous take on the Red Cross in its role in transporting hostages to their release while having been missing in action for the past 16 months. 


Sunday toons

Its Sunday , so let us take a more relaxed view of the hectic pace of change. 

Some political toons, no comments required; -















EV charging innovations!

Given the intense R&D into EV batteries, it is not surprising to see new ideas. This week I came across two, yes two, that could help to make EVs viable. Both address the long charging times for EVs making distance travel risky and time-consuming. Given a charge can take up to an hour imagine arriving at a charging station with all stations full and waiting for just two cars ahead of you.  While charging stations are being built, the number of EVs is also growing so EV ownership is already questionable.

So here are the two ideas, the first is a rapid charge technology that can achieve an 80% charge in just 9 minutes! Read more details here: 80% in 9 minutes: Zeekr’s ‘Golden Battery’ sets record for fastest EV charging.  

The second and more outside-the-box solution is to allow EVs to be charged continuously while on the road by electrifying the road surface. Read more here :EV range anxiety eliminated with US engineers’ breakthrough wireless charging roads

Both of these are novel ideas and time will see if they work. However, it is clear that the battery technology needs to improve to make EVs viable. We are not there yet!


Eliminating the need for Blood donors

Another in the "what will they think of next "file. An Israeli company is developing lab-grown red blood cells. Red C Biotech is at an advanced stage of development and expect it to reach the market in 5 years. Think of the impact, abundant universal red-blood to meet the needs of the whole world. No need to constantly canvas for blood donors, and making blood available to the poorest countries.
This is a development we all welcome. 




Gaza Riviera

A day is a long time in the new Trump era. Today, Trump suggested a novel solution to the Gaza Israel problem. He noted that there have been multiple wars between Hamas and Israel, and even today , after a 16 month war, if Israel leaves Gaza, Hamas will reform, rearm and repeat its terrorist fight against Israel. With this in mind he has proposed that Gaza's population be moved to countries willing to accept them, for a period of approx 10 years. During this time the US would invest and rebuild the area to become a vibrant, self supporting region. After this some of the removed population could return, if it wanted to , but only on condition that the region would remain peaceful to its neighbours.

Of course this has generated global outcry. Israel and Isral supporters have welcomed this solution as it meet some of Israel's needs.

It would clear the region of Hamas terrorism, guaranteeing peace for Israel and ensure Hamas does not return to power. These were two of Israel's key war aims.

Of course there are many naysayers too. The reasons given are visceral and off-the cuff but include the following; 
  • Hamas loses power, so all Hamas supporters, ie those who want "River to the sea, Palestine will be free (of Jews)" , will not doubt fight it with every scream they have left
  • The mass forced relocation of people breaks all current UN Human Rights rules. 
  • Where will Gaza's civilians go? No one is willing to take them.
With regard to mass forced relocation of populations there have been precedents. After world war II some 3 million ethnic Germans were relocated from the Sudeten region of Czechoslovakia to Germany proper. This was done to prevent the recurrence of ethnic tensions that were used by Hitler as a pretext to invade Czechoslovakia.

Of course this is very early and Trump's though bubble may indeed be just a strategy to encourage local Arab states to take some responsibility for the Hamas/Gaza mess. 

We will see!


Trump 2.0 is effective




Like a hyperactive battery-powered pink bunny Trump has gone full throttle in re-aligning the political orientation not only of the US but the world. 

In a whirlwind 2 weeks he has; -
  • expedited a hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas
  • seen the confirmation of half his cabinet, Hegseth, Radcliffe, Rubio, Bondi and most look like they will be confirmed
  • issued EO to close the border; crossing have reduced from 1400 per day to 500 per day and are still falling
  • targeted ISIS in Somalia 'neutralizing' a whole ISIS terrorist planning team
  • started deporting illegal and criminal immigrants
  • called out Colombia when they rejected a plane load of immigrants then had the Columbian president pick them up in his own plane
  • Stopped all DEI programs in the federal government. He has put all DEI titled staff in paid leave
  • Stopped all Transgender policies declaring there are just two genders Male and Female (it is crazy to have to say this)
  • Withdrawn the US from the Paris Climate Change Agreement
  • Withdrawn US from WHO
  • Put Tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico, 
  • Soon after he postponed the Tariffs on Mexico and Canada for 30 days, pending negotiations on controlling the border to prevent illegal immigration and the smuggling of fentanyl
  • Declared interest in the US gaining access to Greenland for security - discussion have been started
  • Called on Panama to ensure control is removed from China and requesting a better deal for the US
  • Met with Bibi Netanyahu and following the meeting has stopped all funding to UNRWA and withdrawn the US from the UN Human Rights Council
  • Declassified all files on the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK
  • Saw the Laken Riley Act through Congress and Senate and signed it off
In all probability I have missed a few , as it is hard to keep up.

This is an unprecedented rate of progress, and welcomed by his many supporters. The Democrats are still bewildered, but I expect they will regroup all to soon and try to stop his momentum.

In the mean time, "Well done Donald!"


Deport the Hate

Pierre Polliviere words has gone viral a number of times in the recent past. He has the uncommon ability to talk clearly and directly at the causes of fundamental issues. In the most recent instance he was making a short speech at the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. Here is his short speech.


In his short speech he focuses on one of the major sources of antisemitism in the Western world, the immigration of large numbers of Muslims who hate Jews. He says what most leaders fear to say, if non-citizen is guilty of antisemitism he should be deported. That is the very least a country that want to protect their Jewish population should do. 

Unfortunately, most of the left leaning leaders of the democratic world are unwilling to upset their Muslim populations by taking such decisive action.  However it is not a choice between Muslim or Jewish citizen, but a choice between standing for what is right and appeasement. 

It is exactly this weak approach by Trudeau, Biden, Albanese and Starmer , that has seen the escalation in antisemitism in their countries. 

Trump's election has changed the narrative in the US, now we are awaiting the election of Dutton in Australia, Polliviere in Canada, and Farage in the UK.


Israel vs Palestine an Arab viewpoint


Oxford Union debates have been mentioned in some of my posts in the past. I use selective excerpts from especially articulate presenters with a good argument. Here is another , perhaps not the most articulate but he compensates by direct and forceful logic. The debate was titled "This House Believes Israel is an Apartheid State Responsible for Genocide ". Yes, not surprising from a typical Woke university.  The presenter is Yoseph Haddad an Israeli Arab. His perspective would be enlightening to all the mad marchers for "Palestine".  It is a must watch.



No comments:

Post a Comment