IWC gained a reputation for pilot’s watches in the 1940s, the pilot watch was manufactured for the Luffwaffe in World War II. The 1950s saw the rebuilding of Europe, engineers working in labs were exposed to magnetic fields, the rebuilding of industries in the post WWII era saw advances in technology. The anti-magnetic capabilities of this watch prevented magnetism of the movement when exposed to excessive magnetic fields in engineering labs and workshops.

The Ingenieur predated the Rolex Milgauss that released in 1956 and the Omega Railmaster released in 1957, the Ingenieur was released a couple of years ahead of both of these engineers watches. The Ingenieur Reference 666 was released in 1955 followed by the Reference 766, the Reference 866 was released in 1967, one with a date and a no-date model.

The Reference IW3227 was designed by legendary watch designer Gérald Genta, the 42 mm case and integrated bracelet was big for the time. The IW3239 was 40 mm in diameter and thinner in thickness. Both the IW3227 and IW3239 featured a winged crown guard, both models had screws in the bezel.

The 500,000 A/M was released in 1989, the balance spring was manufactured from niobium-zirconium alloy. This alloy has a melting point of 2399℃, a density of 8.59 g/cm3 , a Vickers Hardness of 65 – 140 and tensile strength of 330 – 620 MPa. This is pretty serious material for a balance spring, the rotor had ruby ball bearings, other anti-magnetic materials were used for the pallet fork.

The 500,000 A/M was a commercial failure, the balance spring used innovative materials, however, the balance spring was affected by temperature changes, these temperature changes were more disruptive than the magnetic fields. There is a risk in innovation, the watch was produced, but was really not viable in a commercial sense. The movement was based on an ETA base 2892, the modifications for the ebauche were a good try, now the 500,000 A/M is seen as a collectable.

I find it unusually strange to stand outside a building that is cordoned off to the public to snap photographs, yet alas I do. But oh no, we are not allowed in to view the goings on from the inside. This pretty much sums it up, like minions, we are all affected in our lives by the decisions made inside this building; but we are not made privy to the goings on inside the walls of the New York Stock Exchange.

The fact that this building is located on Wall Street is not lost on me, they have erected a wall around the NYSE to keep the great unwashed at bay. This might be viewed as a monument to insider trading, corporate fraud and white collar corruption. Undoubtedly, we need stock exchanges to provide capital to build an economy, but not exchanges run like this one.

The Ukrainian foray into the Kursk region of Russia is a brave move, pulling off this surprise attack was one of the great strategic moves of the war. This offensive is also one of the great tactical moves of the war for Ukraine. This is a bold move, this is a shock attack and I am suitably impressed.

Ukraine was getting pushed back in the Donbas region, they were slowly losing ground and losing limited resources. I was so surprised when I woke one morning to see Facebook messages from my brother who is a couple of hours ahead in Sydney, he informed me of the bold offensive and we attempted to work out what Russia was doing. I was listening to Professor Michael Clarke on Sky News UK along with segments from Sean Bell.

So what we know is Ukraine has put battle hardened troops into this offensive, they have ensured they are well resourced and equipped. What we saw was Ukraine pushing hard and fast, they gained a fair amount of ground in the early stages. I was speculating if they would make a lightning raid and then withdraw, a few weeks in and this does not seem to be the case, they look like they are planning to hold and occupy the land.

Ukrainian forces pushed hard and fast, whilst they may have extended their supply lines, they have not exceeded logistics. This has put a natural brake on their advance, they could have been wiped out in a counter-attack with failed logistics. We only have to look at the failed Russian offensive to take Kiev in three days, this was a tactical defeat and strategic disaster. So whilst there might not be the thunder runs the Ukrainian troops employed to over-run the Russian forces early in the war, we might see something special soon.

So it appears the Northern Territory to Singapore solar generated electrical generation plant and undersea cable is stalled again. The project has great potential, it is great to see high-level collaboration between the two nations. The Northern Territory offers both the expanse to house solar panels and ample sunlight to power the solar cells.

An undersea cable is required to transport the electrical output of the project to Singapore, this is likely to be a major engineering feat, an undersea cable of 4200 km is a major undertaking. What Singapore requires is both efficient and reliable energy, this project has the potential to meet the energy needs of Singaporeans.

This is a great example of nations coming together with differing requirements but mutual interests. There is no doubt Australia has plenty of sunshine and space. The island nation of Singapore on the other hand has limited space and although located close to the equator, is overcast and tropical.

Sure, based on the close proximity to the equator, Singapore really doesn’t have defined seasons like many of the Southeast Asian nations of the region. What they lack is space on their island nation that is characterised in a constant rainy season. This cloud cover and lack of usable space is a real issue. The Northern Territory has plenty of space to erect solar panels and year round sun.

The real issue is the technological requirements of transmitting electricity to Singapore via undersea cable. The solar generation capability is existing technology, but it appears the transmission capability is the limiting factor and I would be interested how they transmit electrical energy over such vast distances., so given the operational constraints, the power generation should be sufficient if the project can get secure funding.

Photography is a fantastic art form; performed correctly, a photograph captures a moment in time for eternity. For a split-second when the shutter is open, time stops completely and an image is captured on a negative or disk. The very nature of a photography lends itself to the recording of time, a fleeting moment that is viewed from a single perspective and then the moment is no more.

I have learned that time is fleeting, you have but only a moment to act and you need to be decisive, there are no second chances. There is so many skills to master, knowledge to gain by formal and informal means to become half competent. There is composition, lighting, shadows, movement, and getting the camera to do what you want. A photographer needs to be proficient with setting up the camera with f-stops, aperture, and ISO. There is the selection of lenses, I have finally received my zoom lens, macro next, I have my tripod as well but I just like wandering around looking for street photography topics.

I can’t say I’m a fan of the Formula 1 series, I checked some older models out at Singapore’s Changi Airport a few years back as a back-up watch and I can’t say I was that impressed. TAG Heuer are manufacturing timepieces based on their strength – motorsport. 

A couple of years later, I looked at the Formula 1 model for my nephew for his 18th birthday. Again, I could see better value in other watchmakers, the build quality isn’t good enough. So what happened? I understand TAG Heuer is looking for an entry-level watch for young people to get them excited – but still. If you want the TAG Heuer name on the dial and bracelet, then you need to back it up. 

TAG Heuer has a long relationship with Formula One, this is admirable, TAG Heuer has very much been involved in F1 for a very long time. The TAG Heuer Red Bull racing sponsorship has been very rewarding for the company. I am sure it has been very rewarding for the Red Bull racing team too, they are a successful race team and this branding is pretty much what TAG Heuer is known for.

I understand the principles behind the entry-level F1 series, this is an aspiring market segment who don’t have a big discernible income, they don’t have the spare funds that more established workers do. However, they are seeking to build a long-term relationship with a younger cohort to win some brand loyalty. I understand the thinking behind this, but if the quality is not there, then they damage the brand. 

The Ukrainian invasion of Russia would be hilarious if Ukrainian lives were not being lost in this offensive. Throughout this war of existence for Ukraine, they have been hindered by NATO inaction and fumbling. NATO has only supplied enough weaponry for Ukraine to not be overrun by the fascist forces of Ukraine, the West has really let Ukraine down through fear of retaliation.

Had NATO not diddled their way through the early stages of the war, Ukrainian forces would have overrun the Russian forces whilst they were in total disarray. Instead, they were allowed to regroup and dig in building multiple lines of defences during the winter months. When Ukraine sought to start their summer offensive, they were forced to wait for equipment supplies whist Russia laid mines, dragon teeth obstacles and dug trenches.

Ukraine could not mount a NATO doctrine combined arms offensive as they did hold air superiority, their ground forces were exposed to defensive actions by a much larger Russian army. Then, when the US Congress led by the Republican party held up supplies, the Ukrainian forces were starved of munitions and supplies. All the gains they made were eroded as they could barely hold on, Russian forces were making advances and Ukraine had not only lost momentum, they were now losing this war.

Donald Trump blamed the Biden Administration for the bungled withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan, but let us look into this further. The Trump Administration set the timeframe withdrawal, Trump was defeated in the polls and the Biden Administration sworn in, instead they were banging on about stolen election when they knew full well they lost the election. The pullout was extended by the Biden Administration but they were really locked in, they could not take an escalation of this conflict to the American people so were forced to meet this [extended] timeframe.

So why did Ukraine invade Russia? Whilst this is a limited offensive, they have made a point. They have undermined Putin’s authority, not only are Russian forces bogged down in Ukraine and taking serious casualties, they cannot defend their own country. They have brought this conflict home to Russia. What we know is Russia stations their troops from the poorer eastern regions on the frontline in Ukraine as cannon fodder, their more affluent troops from the Moscow and St Petersburg regions have more sway, they are more vocal and could place pressure on Putin himself.

Putin cannot let this situation escalate on home soil, so far what we have seen is mass surrender by young inexperienced troops kept well behind the front lines. These surrenders indicate an unwillingness to fight for Russia on Russian soil; these troops know they are better treated in Ukrainian captivity than by their own commanders. This is great for Ukraine, this capitulation cannot be hidden from the Russian people, the Special Military Operation has now resulted in a Russian invasion.

Russians are being evacuated from the Kursk region, they are fleeing from their homes with nothing but their clothes they are wearing. Even the tightly controlled Russian media is failing to quell this story. There is panic in Russia, they know that the nation of Russia is being invaded by the smaller Ukraine, they know that if NATO was to get involved now, western Russia would be quickly overrun.by rampaging NATO forces crossing in from Estonia, further north from Finland and through Ukraine.

The Russian invincibility promoted by Putin is in complete disarray, by now the Russian people are starting to wake up to the fact that Putin the strong man has put the whole country in peril. If the American leadership had any vision, they would be pushing for the the defeat of Russia. So far, all they have done is squandered multiple opportunities. Putin has made Russia weaker, even with Belarus providing a buffer, Finland to the north, Estonia further south and now Ukraine can be the staging country for a Poland led charge.

What Putin will need to do is pull frontline troops and supplies out of Ukraine and redeploy well into Russia. What we know is Ukraine has deployed battle hardened troops to Russia. The Chechen TikTok troops who normally guard the rear to prevent desertion are coming under fire themselves and we are seeing they are neither well trained, well motivated or even remotely competent. What we now know about the Chechen troops is they are not as competent as they claim, they are better known for their uploaded videos and sexually assaulting  Russian troops. 

Watching this unfold is interesting, what is Ukraine trying to achieve here? They want to put pressure on the Russian hierarchy domestically, to reorganise and redistribute Russian troops from Ukraine back to Russia, to hold Russian land for negotiation and put pressure on their supply chains. Ukraine has really rattled Russia here, if they press their advantage hard and the NATO countries do not let them down after being paralysed with indecision, they could defeat Russia here.

Life is a competition, there is no argument, so why the big issues? We compete for scarce resources such as educational opportunities, linked employment prospects, investment choices and business connections. Yes, it is who you know, not what you know that is important. Networking is an important aspect of opportunity creation, this is where you generate chances, this is the forum for generating possibilities.

Whilst we don’t need to drag others down, we can still compete in life and display courtesy to others and treat them in a respectful manner. Yes, there are individuals who are more successful, we need not be jealous of their achievements, we should not measure our success against their achievements and accomplishments. Instead, we concentrate on our own needs and desires, there will always be a more powerful person, faster, smarter and better looking so we just have to set our own targets and achieve our personal goals.

We are all now exposed to this cancel culture stupidity, the rewriting of authors Robert Dahl and Enid Blyton because their writing contains words and sentences that some people find distressing. References to fat and ugly is being removed from the vocabulary because it offends someone – get real. Oompa Loompas are now gender neutral – ha ha.

So I need to ask, what is woke? Are we dealing with a generation of self-absorbed powerpuffs who cannot be exposed to the realities of life? I think not, there are 18 to 25 year old people fighting for survival in Ukraine, they are fighting for their own survival and the survival of their nation. So, I think it is a little disingenuous to call out the millennial generation as weak and pathetic.

Woke is defined as being alert to racial prejudice and discrimination. But what does that really mean? Doing some checking here, woke was also aligned to hip and open-minded. This is an African American term that has gone worldwide, but does that mean you are looking for discrimination everywhere? This could also be interpreted as being conscious to racial discrimination in society in a political and social sense.

This seems to be more of a left – right leaning political sphere. What I view in political references is voters who elect governments tend to move in cycles, we are now in a left-leaning period. Australian federal governments run for 3 years, US governments have a 4 year term so whilst we do see one term US governments, it is pretty rare in Australia with most governments elected for a minimum of two terms so I am expecting to see the Albernese government reelected with a reduced margin. They are now in their second year and receiving a pretty good run in the media, that turns pretty quick so I will be interested to see how they govern in a negative media environment.

Just over a year and a half ago, remember the idiots on social media claiming the Russian forces massed on the Ukrainian border were not a threat to Ukraine. Their idiotic anti-American views fueled by Russian bots shaping social media discussions are easy to identify. Then people get all uptight and argue with these online trolls, these arguments go nowhere of course, they just burn energy and frazzle nerves.

With Russian troops massed in Belarus, it was pretty obvious what Putin was intending, The Russian President sent troops into Crimea in 2014 and then occupied the Donbas region by sponsoring a separatist movement. A positive outcome of this war will be to drive all the Russians out of the Donbas region and back across the border. If the Ukrainians are successful in defeating Russia, then I hope NATO stations a peacekeeping force on the border of Russia to keep the region from being invaded again.

So where to from here? I fully expect Ukraine with NATO assistance to eventually defeat the invading Russian forces ending the military occupation of their country. Once Russia is defeated, I expect the Ukrainian application for membership to NATO to be expedited and Ukraine is fast tracked into the alliance. They have absolutely earned their membership, they stood up to the might of the Russian military despite being an inferior force in terms of equipment and manpower. I think we will see Ukrainian military veterans stationed all over Europe [and possibly further] to train military personnel on tactics and strategy.

At time of writing, Russian defences were holding, the Ukrainian forces had breached thr first defensive line and were making inroads into the second line of defensives. We were looking at around six weeks of autumn before the rains arrived, the mechanised offense would get bogged down when the rains arrive. However, the Ukrainian advance through the minefields had been slow as they cleared the mines by hand instead of committing vehicles to be picked and destroyed by Russian forces.

It was clear to everyone following world events that Russia would invade Ukraine; they had previously embarked on the invasion and annexation of Crimea. There was also the separatist movement in Donbas funded and controlled by the Kremlin. Russian autocrats had pre-planned the invasion of the whole of Ukraine and now they initiated their plan, it was clear to see. What might be funny, since the invasion was launched from Belarus, they might be the ones to come under full Russian control once the invasion of Ukraine stalks and ultimately fails.