I am keen to learn about Russian Web Brigades, better known as Russian bots. The Russian bot factory, officially known as the Internet Research Agency, was charged by the US Department of Justice with interfering in the 2016 US federal election. There is concern that the 2024 US presidential election will be similarly targeted by foreign interests seeking to influence the presidential election outcome.

The Russian bot factories are pumping out disinformation at a prestigious rate, sometimes you really have to look hard to see if these are real accounts. Unlike the Chinese Wuamo who pay public servants to flood social media accounts with intentional disinformation to undermine democracy, the bot factories are automated. The bot factories have been set up with Kremlin funds and no doubt technology to distance themselves from official government channels.

So how much money has been funnelled to Yevgeny Prigozen and his backers to set up, and orchestrate a Kremlin funded disinformation campaign? Based in St Petersburg, the Kremlin organised and funded Prigozen’s unlawful activities. The Kremlin turned Yevgeny Prigozen into a billionaire, he has vast wealth and influence in not just Russia, eastern Europe and Africa.

Now Prigozen is gone, government agencies are a little unsure how the bot factories will operate. Kremlin trolls have infiltrated social media sites, why would anyone with any sense argue with these automated responses? Surely, no rational person would be influenced by such propagandists – yet many are. So one could argue Russian trolls are successful, their simplistic arguments are supported by disaffected individuals who lack the critical thinking skills to distinguish between Russian propaganda and fact.

So, what do we expect from Kremlin funded disinformation sources? Well, apart from the standard moon landing deniers, vaccine dodging patriots and Washington election denial rioters, there is only the US constitution standing in the way. Russian interests clearly support the Republican party and Donald Trump over the Democrats and Joe Biden. The Democrats have shown they will not tolerate Russian aggression in Ukraine and whilst they have been slow to provide the weapons for Ukraine to win the war, they have eventually provided support.

What the Republicans have done at every opportunity is block every initiative and play domestic politics. This has been the Republican stance, they have been unable to distinguish between domestic politics and strategic outcomes. The Trump Administration set the scene for the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan that the Biden Administration inherited. The Republicans, if elected, seek to sell out a democratic nation to Putin’s imperial moves. I would suggest further European nations are at risk from a revitalised Russian dictatorship.

In what would be considered a 70s supergroup, Fleetwood Mac was one of my favourite bands of the era. The relationship of Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks really drove the songwriting and the tempo of the band. Yes, there was drama, there was conflict and they made a way to make the drama work. The conflict in this band was legendary, the songwriting was superb, you could sense and feel the tension.

Whilst You Make Loving Fun was the song that really got me interested in the band as I was too young to know the Rumours album in 1977 when it was released. I do know all the songs off this album, this is a classic album. The dynamics of Buckingham and Nicks on stage was brilliant, they were the show. The lyrics of “Tell me why, everything turned around, packing up, shacking up is all you want to do” really cranked up the tension on that song.

I loved Christine McVee’s voice, her tone was brilliant but when Lindsay Buckingham wrote Go your own way and Stevie Nicks had to sing back-up vocals where she shacked up and packed up, that’s all she wanted to do according to Lindsay. She was not thrilled with the words and wanted them changed but as we have seen were unsuccessful. As Buckingham sung the lyrics, Nicks would turn and stare at Buckingham and the stare was brilliant – the song was the highlight.

What happened to Israel on October 7 was unbelievable, the absolute gall of Hamas to plan and attack Israel in such a manner defies belief. The brutality of the attack left many shocked, we were not ready for it, so it really took the world by surprise. After the brutality of this attack, we all knew what the response of Israel would be, they would not be taking a conservative approach.

I was watching the start of the offensive, the responses of the Palestinians in Gaza have been hard to view. Hamas is a terrorist organisation, but do they represent the views of the Palestinians? They certainly did not help their cause when they spat on the half-naked and abused body of Shani Louk around Gaza.

Still, what I am seeing is a very pro-Palestinian following on social media,especially the millennial generation who are adversely anti-Israel. I really don’t think I need to remind anyone who attacked who on the 7th of October. Has the IDF been indiscriminate in targeting Palestinians in Gaza? South Africa has even taken the step of filing a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice citing genocide yet gives Russia a free pass in Ukraine.

I would suggest no, Israel is not targeting Palestinians. There is horrible death and destruction in Gaza and that is due to Hamas embedding their terrorist infrastructure in general infrastructure including hospitals, schools, mosques and private residences. That death is on Hamas using Palestinians as human shields, there are still 139 hostages including women and children still held in captivity and that is the issue.

When I think about the chronograph, I think about 1950s and 1960s motorsport where lap times were recorded with stopwatches. The wrist mounted stopwatch, or chronograph complication was particularly suited to motorsport and other racing events where lap timing was required by team members. This classic design is highly sought after, a mechanical chronograph is a work of engineering art.

The Omega Speedmaster was originally a motorsport chronograph, that was until NASA astronaut Wally Shirra introduced the Speedmaster to the NASA hierarchy. What ensued was a series of strict testing protocols that saw the Speedmaster meet every test. Every other brand that submitted a timepiece failed the testing process. There was only one timepiece that passed all tests and that was the Speedmaster. What I like about the Speedmaster is the design barely deviates from the original 1957 design, Omega got the design right the first time.

The Rolex Daytona was ironically a failure of sorts when first released, what I read is retailers were unable to sell the Cosmograph Daytona at the time, they were notoriously hard to move by all accounts. Now, if you can get one, you will be paying a huge premium. First you need to be placed on a waiting list, this could be two or more years and even then, you need to be a known customer of the autherised distributor.

The Zenith El Primero is an interesting timepiece, in the 1960s when watchmakers were racing to develop a wrist mounted chronograph, Zenith was well advanced in design and development. When the quartz crisis hit the industry in the 1970s, Zenith went under and if it was for a highly motivated Charles Vermot who refused to destroy the drawings and hid the tooling, the reference 16500 series movement would not have been the success that it is. The modern incarnation of the El Primrro is a fantastic looking chronograph with ceramic bezel and three colour sub-dials, this is a modern version of a classic design that has improved over time.

Jack Heuer was behind the development of the Carrera, inspired by the Panamerican road race, the Carrera design managed to get all the proportions right. Through the years, there have been many versions of the Carrera, some too big and garish, but you dtill cannot beat the classic design of the early Carrera designs.

Steve McQueen wore the Heuer Monaco in the 1971 movie Le Mans. Whilst I believe the Carrera is the iconic Heuer chronograph, the Monaco deserves special mention as the square case is so distinctive. This chronograph will not work for everyone, but what I like about the Monaco is the wrist presence that the square case provides.

Heuer features heavily in motorsport, in the 1960s and 1970s Heuer released a multitude of motorsport styled chronographs. Pretty much the entire Heuer offering was the chronograph at one stage. The Autavia launched in 1962 was based on dash timers, so the Autavia was very much a functional timer. The name Autavia itself comes from aviation and automotive heritages, this could possibly be the most functional of the Heuer chronographs.

Whilst the chronograph is traditionally aimed at motorsport, the Breitling Navitimer is very much aviation inspired. A circular slide rule, the Navitimer was a pilot’s timepiece and used to assist pilots calculate a whole host of functions. To be absolutely honest, these calculations are beyond me, but I still love the aesthetics of the dial even if I cannot use the circular slide rule to its potential.

The current public sentiment is anti-Israel, but we really need to ask how hostages were fed through Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza? Video footage shows the hostages being ushered through the hospital, this is an outrage. Instead of improving the medical facilities, Gaza infrastructure and the lives of Palestinians, Hamas chose to attack Israel.

We will not fall for the Hamas explanation that they were seeking medical attention, what we need to find out is if hostages were transferred through the hospital to the tunnel network. Whilst some hostages have been released, there are still hostages being held with children drugged and women sexually abused. One assumes the hostages are being moved around the tunnels as the fighting rages overhead.

Hamas broke the last ceasefire and hostage exchange, this was to their advantage. Hamas were trying to look like the good guy here, doing the right thing and releasing hostages. Really, drip feeding hostages back to Israel was a means to prolong the fighting. I am not really sure of the Hamas strategy, the IDF are destroying Hamas and slowly dismantling their terror network. One has to remember Hamas was overwhelmingly supported by Palestinians, this was their choice and they have to live with this.

Heading into the final weeks of the hiking season, I knew I had limited opportunities to view Mt Fuji up close, I had to take my chance, so I did. This was not a planned trip, this was impromptu, this idea was put together at the last moment.

I had viewed Mt Fuji from afar on my first trip to Japan more than twenty years ago, the mountain is pretty much a symbol of Japan along with cherry blossoms, bonsai trees and geisha girls. It was incredible that I had viewed Mt Fuji from a distance, this was my opportunity, you never know when another opportunity arises.

It is generally accepted to allow five and a half hours to get to the peak of Mt Fuji. When I started hiking in a Billabong T-shirt, denim shorts and half a bottle of water, I hadn’t planned to head to the summit. Although I was wearing hiking boots, this was just a lucky confidence, this turned out to be great luck. 

I was constantly quizzed to make sure I wasn’t planning on heading to the peak and I answered a resounding no, I wasn’t planning that at all. Clearly, they were concerned as the temperatures are sub-zero on the summit even during summer but that wasn’t a problem. I had to push a quick pace, no chance of getting cold, I was covered in sweat. I spent 45 minutes at the summit, that was enough time to enjoy the amazing views, rest and recover so the descent wouldn’t be a problem. 

But, there is always a but – once I got going, I wanted to see the summit. So I knew I needed to crank up and that is what I did, in under 3 hours I was gazing over the temple and through the clouds. It is never that simple, the race to the summit was a challenge of personal endurance. I was making some fast progress, I was overtaking people and really cranking up the pace. 

Lisa Wilkinson took the stand in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial and did not disappoint, Lisa is indignant and although she identifies as a journalist, she is woefully unknowledgeable on the use of technology so was apparently duped by Brittany and the bruise on her leg. She claims she does not know what metadata is, not much of an investigative journalist, yet she got upset when referred to as a junior journalist.

Both Bruce Lehrmann and Brittany Higgins have provided contradictory testimony, Lehrmann’s contradictory evidence relates to why he was a parliament house at that time – he had three different stories for three different people. I would argue Higgins has provided the least reliable testimony, her statements were full of misrepresentations. Anyone who has any dealings with Brittany Higgins has been stained, absolutely no one escaped the Higgins saga – she is contemptible. Fiona Brown has had her life destroyed by the Brittany Higgins saga, she fundamentally did nothing wrong.

Linda Reynolds has now frozen Brittany Higgin’s assets now that she and David Sharaz have moved to Lunas in the south of France. Senator Reynolds has sought an injunction in the Supreme Court of Western Australia to prevent further funds transfer. Higgins was repeatedly warned to stop the defamation of Senator Reynolds on social media, she did not and now finds herself having legal action taken against her. She might be coughing up some of that $2.44 windfall she was gifted.

The Albanese government’s payment of $2.44 million to Higgins was rushed, only a day deliberation with the David Sharaz connection to Katy Gallagher is problematic and may face corruption charges. Justice Michael Lee has compared David Sharaz to the prophet of Elijah, there is a place at the table but he never shows up – ha ha. The barristers for the defendant Channel 10 have to prove on the balance of probabilities that Lehrmann raped Higgins in parliament house in 2019.

It shocked the world, the lifeless body of Shani Louk paraded around Gaza by Hamas terrorists, spitting on her after no doubt abusing her and generally acting as a low life loser terrorist. Whilst some terrorists can be sophisticated, it would be the ones higher up, oganising funding and performing planning duties. Not that I am trying to romanticise terrorism, but there are planners an then there are the low-life monkeys that carry out attacks and that is what we are focusing on here.

The terrorist who paraded her around the streets of Gaza and spat on her body has been neutralised by the Israeli Defence Forces. Whilst I do not believe in revenge, it would appear justice has been served. Defiling her body and shouting Allahu Akbar, the monster will not be going to heaven like he thought, he is no longer living, this is a positive outcome for the world. Whilst the death of Shani’s tormentors has been reported, the IDF has not released how he died or the operation that led to his death.

Hungarian President Viktor Orbán is a wannabe dictator and Putin puppet. Not only does Orbán look up to Vladimir Putin, he is seen shaking hands with Putin at a Chinese Belt and Road Initiative in Beijing. Despite Putin being under an ICC arrest warrant, Orbán was happy to meet with and shake hands Putin in China – one of the few countries he can travel to.

The decision by EU leaders to offer Ukraine EU membership is historic, that was until Orbán stepped in. Having had €10.2 billion of funding unfrozen that was previously blocked for Orbán’s blocking of the rule of law, he is now blackmailing the EU for further concessions. Despite abstaining on Ukraine’s EU membership, Viktor Orbán blocked €50 billion of aid funding just hours after the European Union announced their decision.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin congratulated Viktor Orbán for his efforts, that is an endorsement I would never want. Orbán has an authoritarian vision for Europe based on his far right views. Europe is swinging right with the Netherlands electing Geert Wilders as their Prime Minister with Hungary, Slovakia, Holland and Poland all moving to right-wing nationalist policies.

After witnessing an extraordinary attack on Israel’s sovereignty, more than 240 people were taken hostage with women, children, elderly and even a holocaust survivor. Ok, women I understand, they need females to rape, parade around Gaza as a trophy of their attack and to humiliate. They are animals, this is the level of their intelligence, you can’t expect much from Hamas.

The recent ceasefire suited Hamas, this worked for them. It gives them time to regroup, they are clearly getting belted by the Israeli Defence Force, that was plain for all to see. It is amazing the tunnel network built under Gaza, the video footage of transporting Israeli hostages through the Al-Shifa hospital is telling. Infrastructure such as hospitals should and must be off limits. If Hamas wants to set up operations in or around a hospital, then this Infrastructure loses its protected status. The hospital is now a legitimate target and is free to be flattened.

I am viewing the carnage for the Palestinian people, it is devastating. They were happy to have Hamas as their leadership, this was the elected government of Gaza and it is clear this was a mistake. What Hamas has brought to Gaza is untold misery, there has been discussion Gaza could have become the Singapore of the middle east. Whilst I do not believe that for one minute, with all the funds flowing into Gaza, what did they do with it? They built tunnels, they dug up water pipes to use as missile tubing and they undermined the infrastructure.

The hospitals were command structures for military operations, Israeli hostages were bought through the Al-Shifa hospital. Tunnels have been broadcast on Israeli programs where tunnels end in private housing and apartments. The Israeli Defence Forces have also uncovered a large tunnel headed towards the Erez border crossing capable of driving vehicles through. This tunnel was planned to attack Israel, there is no other requirement for such a large tunnel capable of transporting vehicles to attack Israeli forces. Palestinians were also transported through this tunnel network, they had knowledge of the tunnels and apparently used them frequently.