Egypt Vs Iran -- is there a difference

On Monday Egypt announced their plans to begin developing Nuclear Energy power plants.

To quote an article by the AP "President Hosni Mubarak said the aim was to diversify Egypt's energy resources and preserve its oil and gas reserves for future generations. In a televised speech, he pledged Egypt would work with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency at all times and would not seek a nuclear bomb.

But Mubarak also made clear there were strategic reasons for the program, calling secure sources of energy "an integral part of Egypt's national security system."

At what point does the aim to diversify fuel needs become an integral part of security.- according to the Egypt State Information Service, Oil production accounts for 92% of all fuel, and as of 2006, they discovered even more sites, so, even long term, i am not really worried about Egypt suddenly becoming dependant on other countries for fuel needs.

In a discussion on the BBC World Service programme World have your Say"

Most of the calls were concerned with 2 main issues:
Firstly - are they really prepared for the long term secure storage of spent nuclear rods - -can they guarantee that militant factions wont be able to get them and turn them into weapons (after all, they don't actually need to do much to make it dangerous)

and secondly- the regime, currently its stable, moderate and peaceful, but who is to say that in a few years time, when the reactor is going live, or in times after, that Egypt does not have a leader akin to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose anti-everything rhetoric, in the words of Nick "the scariest man in power".

With one popular view being that more Muslim countries are leaning towards the extreme ideals,(I am not getting into a discussion on the religious leanings of Israel) do we want Egypt to have this capability. They state, in the same AP article above that they will be doing it with the full cooperation and assistance of the IAEA, which, in comparison with Iran's attitude, is definitely more promising.

Of course, it is hard to question why anyone in the middle east should not have it when Israel is allegedly storing the 6th largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world.

Your thoughts ?

Tenor Luciano Pavarotti dead at 71

Sad news for the Opera world, and for culture in general.
Luciano Pavarotti died today, aged 71, from Pancreatic Cancer

You can see a wonderful performance of the aria for which he is known best( at least by the commoner such as myself) here



Or him singing Ave Maria



And finally, is the slightly more bizarre performance with James Brown

Whats the point in being honest ?

An excellent article appeared in a weekend edition of Haaretz back in February 2007. The main story in the weekend section that edition was not about a traditional political figure, but rather the Accountant General Yaron Zelekha. I urge you all to read this article. Its a little long, but well worth it. The article can be found here This article extols the honesty, integrity and dedication this man has given to the state.

Bibi Netanyahu in his blog post tells also of examples of how much he as been able to save the state, after appointing him to the position and the benefit to the country in having this man in this position.

His decisions have not made him popular (he was assigned a full time body guard due to the corruption he was uncovering and other such noble activities which made him such an easy target for Israeli politicos and other characters. (It was Zelekha who discovered the Bank Leumi scandal,in 2005, which implicates, amongst other people, our Prime Minister, Olmert.)

So, in today's papers, and online sites ynet, haaretz and others, it tells the story of how his contract is not being renewed.

The only person in the government who is taking political corruption seriously, including publishing a comprehensive anti-corruption plan, being a star witness against olmert in the Bank Leumi case and other major innovations within Israeli political circles, is being fired.

The Finance minister has decided not to keep on his employment. The State Prosecutor has stated that he will not intervene. The state comptrollers office has yet to make their decision.

The levels of corruption in Israeli politics is growing. According an article in the IHT in 2006, (I am sure there are more, but this is the first one i found, the last parliament, when Sharon was in power, was the most corrupt one ever. The main political players are still involved in politics now. We are suffering from a severe lack of ethical and moral leaders. This is meant to be the country which shows the others the way. Instead we can be more compared to the corrupt nations of the world, rather than the honest ones.

The political system is set up to fail the people. Its all about the party. How good you are in the party, how well the party perceive you. At the last elections, there were several good people, with good ideas for reform, who were all conveniently a little bit too low down on their lists to actually make a difference. Instead, the usual suspects were at the top. This is not change, it makes no difference who you vote for. It would take a landslide victory of 1 party in order to get new people, new ideas into Israeli politics.
Electoral reform is discussed every election, primarily amongst olim; those who came from representative based systems. Those from where the elected officials are responsible to the people they represent, not the party line they have to tow. There is Little incentive to work for the people if you don't directly represent them. So in order to get ahead, you need a few bribes here, a few favours handed out there. Every office seems to do it. Its all a "if you help me now, if i get this position, i'll help you" mentality. This is not the Israeli protexia, where having good contacts will get you almost anything you need, this goes far beyond it.


And the govt is getting rid of the man trying to stop the corruption.
I don't know what the public in Israel can do. I don't know if we have the ability to petition the government - saying that WE want him in the position. Telling them that WE want and need someone digging out the corruption within the system. We need to be able to trust our leaders. One of my colleagues at work mentioned today that for him, a bigger issue than security, is trusting the people who make those decisions. If all your choices are based on what stock options you need to get rid of, or what friends you need to tip-off before you make the decisions -- the person may have the experience, but are they really thinking of the country, or just the best way to line their own pockets.

This is the coolest cooking thing i think i have ever seen

I've not tried it, but random browsing of internet came up with this gem today... popcorn-on-the-cob


Popcorn On The Cob - Funny blooper videos are here

I'll have to persuade Ruth to let me potentially explode our microwave and have a go

Shooting in jerusalem

This is a post written really without all the facts.
I am currently on holiday, not fully reading all the facts, but none-the-less shocked by the footage released of the shooting in Jerusalem
I found the footage online and wanted to post and share with those who did not see it.




I will get back to writing more later.

Trip to the UK

Last week Elal took possession of the first of 2 new 777's.
A short film of the maiden flight can be seen here.



I did not take any videos on the plane as we flew on "Sderot", the brand new, one week old plane. (The 2nd one is Kiryat Shmona). I used to travel more often for work, now, not so much, but never have I flown on a brand new, 1 week old plane.

The features include V.O.D for all seats, touchscreen entertainment centre, new and better seats.

My 1 year old child tested everything as best he could - the remote control still worked after being given the 2 tests -- the Dribble and the Bashing test.
The touchscreen still functioned after the hitting-with-the-remote-control test


Ilan showed his appreciation for it by being sick.
6 times

I apologise to anyone who has to sit in row 51 -- it was not my intention to ruin ElAl's new toy, but you can be assured that all the equipment was tested to the highest of child standards

Avram Wedding Videos

Yes Yes it finally happened. After sitting next to and listening to lots about it, it finally took place.
Avram and Talya got married and what a great wedding it was.
So Avram and Talya -- I wish the 2 of you all the best in your new life together. I wish you only the best things in life and as they say you get to build your "bayit neeman beyisrael"

Talya -- you need to introduce Avram to some new music, because, well -- wedding music can only be listened to for so long before it gets tedious.

On another note once again my own "aishes chayil" proved invaluable at the wedding as she remembere the camera, so as the saying goes " Wives - don't leave home without one"

anyway - here are some videos