LIVE Reaction to Putin Interview

After all the hype, the Putin interview was a bit disappointing.

Why would Putin give an interview? Possibly to shore up his support at home, and to remind his backers that he's still the boss. 

I'm sure Tucker Carlson made a fortune through his platform, people will have paid to join so they can be the first to see it. But for Carlson, he's damaged his reputation with all these softball questions.

If there is anything to be taken out of this, it is that we get to see the different viewpoints, East vs West. Putin relies on his version of history, however his interviewer from the West doesn't have enough knowledge to dig deeper, and to possibly reveal Putin as just advancing his own agenda. So, we'll never really know what drives Putin. I think Oliver Stone did a much better job back in 2017, for what it's worth.

 

Russell Brand on the Vladimir Putin Interview

We are soon to hear from Vladimir Putin by way of the interview conducted by Tucker Carlson. Here's Russell Brand on the subject, he asks important questions:

 

Tucker Carlson in Moscow

Tucker Carlson is to interview Russian President, Vladimir Putin. This will be interesting.

King Charles III Cancer

Buckingham Palace have announced that King Charles has cancer. A few days ago he went into hospital for a medical procedure due to his enlarged prostate, but they claim that during that visit another area of concern was discovered and this was not benign. Therefore, he is suspending all duties while he undergoes treatment (please see the announcement below).

Is anyone seeing a pattern here? An announcement is made that appears to be everyday, that later turns out to be much more serious. The Palace is gradually breaking the news to us.

Another recent case is that of Catherine, The Princess of Wales. The Palace announced she was admitted to the same hospital as Charles, in her case for abdominal surgery. But she was not seen arriving, nor leaving, and her family did not visit while she was said to be in the hospital. Where is she?

Ukraine and Russia

Here's an intelligent conversation about where Ukraine will end up. Russia is now stronger and by contrast, NATO and its allies have weakened themselves.

 

Steven Adams Traded to the Houston Rockets

Steven Adams is one lucky guy. He's been traded from the Memphis Grizzlies to the Houston Rockets, in return for Victor Oladipo and three second round draft picks. Both players are coming back from injury and haven't played this season. 

This is a good move for Adams, as Houston can actually win titles, while the Grizzlies are perennial cellar dwellers and have never won a title. Houston gain a good defensive player, something they need, while the Grizzlies save money and can pay a bit more for players they think they need.

As a Rockets fan, I'm really pleased to see Adams with my team. If his knee doesn't recover, he may be close to retirement, but touch wood that he comes out fired up next season.

A Mother's Message

A woman tries to explain the last four years to her children.

Bank Notes Causing Climate Change?

The Davos set will simply make stuff up to justify implementing the cashless society. Stop this nonsense.

It was not about a Virus

 

Wellington City Water

The capital city of New Zealand has a problem; 45% of the city's potable water is lost due to leaks.

That's a lot of water lost and water restrictions have been introduced. But the council refuse to do anything about it, leaks can be literally found on every street. It is below Third World. 

What the council are doing is holding the region to ransom, and demanding money from the taxpayer through central government. 

Solution: the NZ Government should step in, sack the Wellington City Council and put in place a commissioner to run the city. This happened to Environment Canterbury previously, and it worked.

Do it now, be firm and decisive. 

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/507900/wellington-water-suggests-2-point-5b-to-fix-city-s-pipes

Texas Border Standoff

 Is this the start of the Second US Civil War?

NZ's Luxon Next Churchill?

Brilliant cartoon from Jeff Bell...

British Armed Forces No Longer

British defence spending is the sixth biggest in the World, but they cannot go to war. What the hell is going on? Corruption is going on, that's what.

Young People

Hmm, a rise in the number of young people suddenly dropping dead. What could have caused that?

 

Russo-Ukraine War 2024

Recent reports are coming in that indicate Ukraine's forces are collapsing. Russia has made major breakthroughs, destroying Ukrainian strongholds in the process. If this is true, then expect large numbers of Russian troops being funneled through these weak points. 

If Zelensky, his mates and army officers suddenly make a bolt for the door, then I think Ukraine would have about a week beyond that.

How did we get to this point?

To begin with, the West lied to itself about this conflict. It believed such a war was winnable, when it could never be. Then the West continued lying about literally everything. I'll run through some of the lies:

• Russia is running out of armour
• Russia cannot get ammunition
• Russian forces are being decimated
• Sanctions are working
• Revolution is imminent within Russia
• Putin does not have a solid grip on power
• and on and on.

The reality is much more complicated. Sanctions had an effect in the first year, but thereafter Russia simply found ways to circumvent the restrictions or substitute with other goods. Russia has suffered significant numbers of casualties, but Ukraine has suffered similarly. The average age of Ukrainian soldiers is now 43, and women are being sent to the front. Meanwhile, Russia has not even fully mobilised.

Russian equipment appears suited to the task at hand. Their kit isn't flashy or overly techie, but it gets the job done. Meanwhile, NATO gear has proven to be twitchy, unreliable or unfit for the conditions. An example is with the German Leopard 2 main battle tank being withdrawn from frontline service.

The West is guilty of hubris and is being punished for it. 

Anyway, here's a video to keep you up to date:

Davos Man

Water Engines from Toyota

Here we go, this has potential. Toyota and JCB are already supplying hydrogen internal combustion engines, but this takes the process further, obviating the need to store large quantities of the volatile hydrogen fuel.

 

World War III Kicking Off

North Korea are readying for war. Their leader has just announced that South Korea are to be described as their 'number one enemy'.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/01/16/asia-pacific/politics/north-korea-south-korea-relations/

I find it hard to believe that North Korea just came up with this approach on their own. China and Russia must have agreed with the announcement. 

I see commentators saying that North Korea wants engagement and this is another attempt to seek that. I think this is misguided thinking as North Korea have had a windfall with their arms sales to Russia. It appears likely they're now using this income. 

A brief history lesson: the Korean War kicked off when the Russian and Chinese backed North launched an attack on the US-backed South in June 1950. The war swung back and forth but came to a stalemate by 1953. Today, the two sides sit looking at one another, with the conflict technically still live, there has been no peace treaty.

Add to the mix, China's claim on Taiwan and its push into territory in the South China Sea.

Then in other regions, we have the war in Ukraine, with Russia about to win. We have genocide in Gaza with the US, apparently, tacitly supporting this atrocity. The Red Sea is effectively closed to commercial traffic and the US and UK look ineffectual in trying to keep it open.

China and India are still fighting over their borders, as are Iran and Pakistan.

Venezuela has claimed half of Guyana.

Turkey has no idea which side to take, while the Baltic states must be feeling nervous. Why Sweden gave up its neutral stance is a complete mystery.

This is becoming so complicated, it is hard to keep up. I feel like a ball bearing bouncing around in a pinball machine. Another pandemic must be on the cards.

And where does New Zealand and Australia fit in? Not very comfortably is the immediate answer. Neither has the capacity to supply itself or defend its sea lanes. The way things have been left to atrophy is an utter disgrace. We are led by donkeys.

What AI Means

Sharing this as I agree with every word:

https://news.gab.com/2024/01/ai-as-the-information-war-superweapon/

AI As The Information War Superweapon

[Excerpt]

BUT…

Technology has continued to develop.

AI has the ability to permanently break through the Regime’s control of the internet. This is why Regime-aligned corporations have spent billions to develop AI that is already censored and locked down. They have done this, in advance, because they know the disruptive power of AI is unlike anything that has come before it. They know that AI can be used in a mass media propaganda environment and render all their controls over information totally useless. To return to the analogy of warfare, they have massive armies of millions of troops, tanks, aircraft, artillery, and aircraft carriers which they have wielded against an unarmed populace. But now a superweapon exists which makes all their formidable strength obsolete. You can see why they have devoted tens of billions of dollars to companies like OpenAI, as well as with Meta and Alphabet, to ensure that they are the only ones that have this power.

The Greens Disgraced - Again!!

"From the river to the sea, I deserve expensive clothes for free"

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/506825/golriz-ghahraman-resigns-from-parliament-after-shoplifting-allegations