Porsche's first all-electric vehicle the Taycan

Porsche started talking about it first all-electric car, the Taycan, almost four years ago, and a lot has been learned about the car since then. Two remaining questions are now solved about what the car actually looks like and how it performs.

Jonny Smith puts the Porsche to the test

Jonny Smith former presenter for Fifth Gear puts the Taycan through its paces on a new video just published. Wikipedia describes Fifth Gear: "Fifth Gear is a British motoring television magazine series. It was originally broadcast on Channel 5 from 2002 to 2011, afterwards moving to Discovery Channel in 2012, and then in 2015 to History, with repeats on ITV4.[1] Since its return in 2018, it has been broadcast on Quest. The show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jonny Smith and Jason Plato.[2]"

Smith has made many videos on the Fully Charged You Tube channel but he is known for taking a tiny 1970's UK commuter car and turning it into the world's quickest street legal electric vehicle the Flux Capacitor. The car went from 0 to 121 miles per hour in just 9.86 seconds.

Taycan has impressive acceleration

Smith was delighted by the speed of the Taycan. Some Tesla's may be a bit quicker getting to 60 miles per hour but the Taycan is able to accelerate quickly repeatedly with its liquid-cooled 800V battery pack. The video shows Smith using the launch control to accelerate to near maximum speed.

Detail of the interior not revealed

The video sound gives you a good idea what the Taycan will sound like both at low speeds and when it accelerates. However, the seats and dashboard shown all seem to be covered in fabric so that viewers will not see these details until the eventual official unveiling of the car. The company appears to want to keep some surprises for the official unveiling that should be soon.

The Mission E

A 2015 article describes the new Porsche e-car which at the time was called Mission E: "The concept car combines the unmistakable emotional design of a Porsche with excellent performance and the forward-thinking practicality of the first 800-volt drive system. Key specification data of this fascinating sports car: four doors and four single seats, over 600 hp (440 kW) system power and over 500 km driving range. All-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, zero to 100 km/h acceleration in under 3.5 seconds and a charging time of around 15 minutes to reach an 80 per cent charge of electrical energy. Instruments are intuitively operated by eye-tracking and gesture control, some even via holograms – highly oriented toward the driver by automatically adjusting the displays to the driver's position."

Previously published in the DIgital Journal

Trump opposes joint US South Korean military exercises

(August 10) Commenting to reporters on Friday, US President Donald Trump said he agrees with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un in opposing joint US South Korean war games. He said he has never been a fan because he do not like paying for them.

Trump agreed to halt exercises during earlier peace talks

When the peace talks began earlier, Trump agreed to halt the exercises. However, after the failed Hanoi summit it was decided to resume the exercises. The Hanoi summit was in February this year: 'The 2019 North Korea–United States Hanoi Summit, commonly known as the Hanoi Summit, was a two-day summit meeting between North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump,[1] held at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, on February 27–28, 2019. This was the second meeting between the leaders of the DPRK and the United States, following the first meeting in June 2018 in Singapore. On February 28, 2019, the White House announced that the summit was cut short and that no agreement was reached. Trump later elaborated that it was because North Korea wanted an end to all sanctions.[2] North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho asserted that the country only sought a partial lifting of five United Nations sanctions placed on North Korea between 2016 and 2017.[3][4]"

However, there is no indication as yet that new talks are to take place.

Kim no doubt requested suspension of exercises before new talks

Apparently, part of the letter to Trump that he praised objected to the exercises. North Korea sees the exercises as simulated invasions. Even though acknowledging Kim's position, Trump has not announced any change in US policy.

It is not clear why the decision was made to resume exercises

Some Pentagon officials have pushed for the exercises to be resumed, claiming the pause had weakened US combat readiness in South Korea. No doubt many of the hawks in the Trump administration also favor the resumption. It has never been made clear exactly why the exercises resume even though Trump opposes them. Trump often seems to be over-ruled by hawks in his government.

North tests missiles to protest against US North Korea games

A recent article notes: "North Korea conducted the latest in a series of missile launches Saturday to protest US-South Korean war games, just hours after US President Donald Trump expressed his own frustration with the exercises."

The White House so far has had no comment on the new rocket tests. A senior administration official said: "We are consulting closely with our Japanese and South Korean allies."

Trump said the missile tests were not important: "I'll say it again. There have been no nuclear tests. The missile tests have all been short-range. No ballistic missile tests, no long-range missiles."

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Trump demands that South Korea pay more for defense from the North

(August 8) In comments yesterday, US President Donald Trump demanded that South Korea pay substantially more to the US for defending them against North Korea. Trump has continually made that demand since he was elected.

South Korea agreed last year to a significant increase

Trump pointed out that last year the South agreed to a substantial increase in payment to the US when the payment was increased to $990 million per year. After crediting himself for obtaining that raise, he is asking even more. Trump believes that the US pays too much of the defense costs of its ally.

A recent article reports: "Trump also said in the tweet that talks have already begun with South Korea on increasing the $990 million it now pays the U.S. for defense. The president said South Korea should pay "substantially more money to the United States" for the country's help defending it from North Korea. 'South Korea is a very wealthy nation that now feels an obligation to contribute to the military defense provided by the United States of America,' Trump wrote."

A larger payment may be a hard sell in South Korea

Not only did South Korea agree to a large increase last year, but it has had to start negotiations again as Trump has become involved and is demanding more. Furthermore, these agreements are meant to be multi-year. Last year happened to be a year the agreement was up for negotiation. Now it looks as if the US is going to try to raise payments annually rather than keeping the present agreement for several years.

South Korea did not immediately respond to Trump's remarks. The issue of payments for South Korean defense will likely be discussed when US Defense Secretary Mike Esper visits South Korea this Wednesday.

Trump's tweet on Wednesday comes just after a missile launch the day before that the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed was a warning about the planned joint military exercises planned between the US and South Korean forces. There is no sign that the launch will cause any change in plans for the exercises.

Previously published in the Digital  Journal

VAIO's new tiny laptop starts out at $1,199 in the US

VAIO's, SX12 is a tiny laptop the sports almost every port you could ever need. The laptop is now available in the US with a hefty starting price of $1,199. The low-end model has a a Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The Vaio SX12

Prices go up all the way to $2,119 for a variant that has a Core i7 processor and a 1TB solid state drive for storage. All models have a 12 inch 1080p screen, three USB-A ports plus one of the new USB-C ports. There is also one HDMI ports, a full-size SD card slot, a headphone and mic port, and even an Ethernet port. It even retains a VGA port for older equipment. The Verge did not have an SX 12 to test but has reviewed the slightly larger SX14 which has many of the same features as the SX14

The VAIO SX14

The laptop is thin but sturdy as well as lightweight. It has a reasonable keyboard and display. The tilted keyboard is comfortable to type on. As with the SX 12 the SX14 has plenty of ports: "The VAIO SX14 is equipped with an SD card slot (standard size, thank you), a USB-A 3.1 port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, a USB-C 3.1 port (through which you can also charge the laptop, although not nearly as quickly as with its separate AC power port), an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, a VGA (yes, really!) port, and a headphone jack. You’d think that as a user, I would be grateful for all those separate ports, and I am. I would have been happier with fewer USB 3.0 ports and an additional USB-C port that supported Thunderbolt 3 connections, but it’s hard to complain with such an embarrassment of riches"

The Verge finds that the battery life of the VAIO was not good and was less than claimed in its test. The touchpad was also quite small. There was no touch-screen option on the units.

VAIO

VAIO was once owned by Sony and still has connections with it as described by Wikipedia: "VAIO Corporation (VAIO Baio Kabushiki Kaisha, standing for Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer) is a Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Azumino, Nagano Prefecture that makes personal computers and smartphones. VAIO was originally a brand of Sony, introduced in 1996. Sony sold its PC business to the investment firm Japan Industrial Partners in February 2014 as part of a restructuring effort to focus on mobile devices. Sony maintains a minority stake in the new, independent company, which currently sells computers in the United States, Japan and Brazil as well as an exclusive marketing agreement. Sony still holds the intellectual property rights for the VAIO brand and logo. Currently in the US, VAIO business products are sold by Trans Cosmos America, Inc."

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Swagtron intruces new e-bike

Swagtron makes hoverboards, electric scooters and electric bikes among other items. It is expanding its line of e-bikes with a new non-folding model called the EB12.

+ Add Image

The EB12

Swagtron is now based in South Bend Indiana. The company is known for its compact folding bikes as well as electric scooters and hoverboards. The inclusion of a lightweight non-folding city e-bike in its lineup is a sign of growing demand for electric models. A description of its products with photos is shown on its official website.

Unlike some other e-bikes the EB12 resembles a standard pedal bike except it has a 270Wh battery strapped to the rear rack. Some e-bike aficionados may not like the style but others will prefer it to the downtube-mounted battery.

The rear wheel contains a 250-watt motor, that together with the battery allows for a top range of 28 miles or 45 km. Riders can engage the motor either by twisting the throttle or by pedalling. The top throttle only speed is 16 miles per hour (26 km/hour). With the pedal-assist mode it can theoretically go faster. The bike has a seven-speed Shimano drivetrain for shifting gears.

Even with the rear-rack battery the EB12 has a pleasing profile. The 700c wheels, flat bar setup, and satin black paint job will surely appeal to those who want to look good while riding. The bike is relatively light at just 39.4 pounds or 17.8 kg. This is light compared to many other e-bikes.

Price

Swagtron says they will sell the EB12 for $999.99. Swagtron products retail at quite competitive prices and the company does very well selling through Amazon.

Swagtron

The company was founded in 2015 Their manufacture ranges from hoverboards, skateboards, e-bikes to electric scooters. The products can be bought in many places: "They aren’t some small brand and everything they sell, they produce from scratch. You can be sure that they design, produce and even distribute their products all over the world and people have recognized that. You can buy them online on their websites or big retailers like Amazon or Walmart, or you can buy them in specialized local shops."

Previously published in the Digital Journal

US may move some intermediate range missiles into Asia after leaving treaty

The US is taking advantage of the fact that it has withdrawn from the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) by planning to put some intermediate-range weapons in Asia

The US Defense Secretary's announcement

Secretary of Defense, Mark Esper told reporters that he is very interested in deploying some intermediate-range missiles in Asia in the coming months when asked if he was considering putting some there: "Yes, I would like to. I would prefer [in] months, I just don't have the latest state of play on timelines for either a cruise missile or long-range missile ... but these things tend to take longer than you expect.""

Esper admitted that he had no specific timetable for deploying the missiles. The Pentagon is moving to develop post-INF missiles but perhaps older designs made before the 1987 treaty will be used just to get more nukes into Asia quicker.

China will object to the deployment

Reporters pointed out that China will object to any deployment of the missiles. However, Esper did not see the move as leading to an arms race and even claimed that the deployment would "deter China". Esper said: ""I don't see an arms race happening, I do see us taking proactive measures to develop a capability that we need for both the European theater and certainly this theater,” Esper said, referring to the Asia-Pacific region."

Target of the deployment is China

The alleged reason that the US withdrew from the treaty is the claim that Russia violated it. Russia denies it had violated the treaty. The two countries were signatories to the treaty. However, the US is keen to begin producing weapons that would have been banned by the INF. The US is particularly keen to use such weapons to target China. China was never a party to the deal so it already has a substantial arsenal of intermediate-range missiles.

The deployment may be a long time coming. A recent article notes: "On Friday, senior U.S. officials said that any deployment of such weaponry would be years away. Within the next few weeks, the United States is expected to test a ground-launched cruise missile, and in November, the Pentagon will aim to test an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Both would be tests of conventional weapons - and not nuclear."

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Bird e-scooter manufacturer to release Bird Two this fall

(August 1) Although it is less than two months since e-scooter maker Bird unveiled its Bird One that was designed to be more long-lasting, durable, and powerful than previous scooters, the company is now ready to produce Bird Two.

Bird Two

The Bird Two is claimed to be even more durable, longer-lasting, and powerful than the Bird One. The Bird Two has what is claimed to be an industry-leading automotive-grade battery that will have 50 percent more capacity than the one in the Bird One. The battery will be optimized to function well in a wide variety of temperatures.

The new Bird will also have smart autonomous sensors that will notify company headquarters should the computer break down. Vandalism and depreciation costs have taken a toll on scooter companies' revenues, causing them to try to get newer, more rugged models on the streets. These self-reporting damage sensors will allow Bird mechanics to get damaged or vandalized scooters off the streets quickly.

Seamless screws and puncture-proof tires

Exposed screws on the scooters can cause injuries and also make it easier to vandalize the units. The Bird Two will have no exposed screws. The company said: “The absence of excessive exposed screws helps create a more seamless design while also reducing painful injuries and vandalism."

The new scooter will also have puncture-proof tires and an anti-tipping kickstand. There will also be software that will help deter theft and protects riders from potentially malicious tricks.

Many specifications still under wraps

The battery capacity has not yet been revealed nor have the range or top speed. The Bird Two is expected to appear in the US by early this fall but will not not be available for purchase as is the Bird One. Bird is also expected to release an electric moped.

Scooter companies including BIrd are struggling to be profitable

Since coming on the scene about two years ago, scooter-rental companies are struggling to make money. Profitability depends on how much money each unit brings a company hence the lifespan is very important. The more trips and miles a scooter can log the better. The cost of buying and maintaining the scooter must be recouped before any money is made.

Bird is reported to have lost nearly $100 million in the first quarter of this year while revenue shrank to about $15 million. Bird has managed to raise $700 million over the last 18 months, but has only $100 million in cash remaining now. The company is looking to raise another $200 to $300 million.

Bird

Wikipedia describes Bird company: "Bird is a dockless electric scooter sharing company based in Santa Monica, California. Founded in September 2017, Bird operates electric scooters in over 60 cities throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North America[2] with 10 million rides in its first year of operation.In 2018, Bird was named one of Time Magazine's 50 Genius Companies,[3] and one of the most sought-after startups in the United States, according to LinkedIn."

Previously published in the Digital  Journal

New browser Chrome 76 has a number of new features

(July 30)Google has now released Chrome 76 browser in stable form with several new features that users should know about. The last big feature was dark mode introduced in Chrome 73 and carried over into Chrome 74 and 75.

Adobe Flash will be blocked by default

For several years Adobe Flash has been blocked by major browsers in one way or another even though it is not truly dead until 2020. In Chrome 76, Flash is blocked by default. You can still access Flash as explained in a recent article: "The Chrome 76 beta by default blocks Flash in the browser. However, users still have the option [chrome://settings/content/flash] to switch back to the current “Ask first” option — where explicit permission is required for each site after every browser restart — for several more releases."

Incognito mode

Another new feature is that websites will no longer be able to detect when your browser is in Incognito Mode. This new feature of incognito mode will cause problems for publishers such as the New York Times that use the detection schemes to keep you from reading an infinite number of free stories and guide you into paying for a subscription.

Dark Mode

An enhancement for dark mode is that web developers can program their sites to automatically serve up a dark version of their website when it sees your dark mode browser. Techopedia explains dark mode: "“Dark mode” in IT refers to user interfaces that work to decrease light output by changing the way that information is presented on the screen. Specifically, IT pros use the term “dark mode” to talk about light text showing up on a dark screen background." IT means "information technology".

Other new changes can be found at Google's Chromium blog post. Chrome is by far the most popular browser with over 69 percent of desktop browser and 60 percent of mobile browsers.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Pompeo promises Afghan troop numbers will be reduced by 2020 election

(July 30) Mike Pompeo US Secretary of State confirmed Monday that the Trump administration plans to reduce the number of US ground troops in Afghanistan before the 2020 election. However the timing and size of the reduction are not yet settled.

If there is an Afghan peace deal all US troops will no doubt be withdrawn.

The Pompeo announcement is odd in that there are hopes for an Afghan peace deal by September. A condition for any deal with the Taliban is that all US and allied troops withdraw from Afghanistan. A reduction in troops by the 2020 election would seem to imply that US troops would still be there but the numbers would be reduced. If there is a peace agreement one would expect that they would all be withdrawn.

The peace process appears to be going well: "The broad basis for the deal is the US withdrawing from Afghanistan and the Taliban agreeing to keep ISIS and al-Qaeda out of the country. A power-sharing agreement between the Afghan government and Taliban, which is likely to be a top priority. There has been hope for some time that the deal could be reached before Afghanistan’s September election. It seems possible that such a deal could still be reached in that time-frame."

US ended combat mission in 2014

Although the US ended its combat mission in Afghanistan in 2014 still about 14,000 US troops remain in the region providing training and air support.

Pompeo said that the reduction would apply to other countries forces as well: "End the endless wars, draw down, reduced. We hope that overall the need for combat forces in the region is reduced. It won't just be us."

The announcement brings into question peace talks with the Taliban

Pompeo claims President Trump made the decision to reduce troops and that he was unambiguous to have the number of troops cut before the election. He said also he wanted the overall need for troops in the region to be reduced and he claimed that this could happen. If the peace deal with the Taliban is reached as the parties seem to think is likely there should be no troops at all at least in Afghanistan. If there are still troops there is likely to be no agreement.

The announcement makes little sense in light of the progress in negotiations with the Taliban. The Taliban must be wondering if Trump is really bargaining in good faith. It is strange that the Trump announcement makes no mention at all of the peace negotiations. Perhaps Trump simply means to assure his supporters that he is serious about withdrawing troops from Afghanistan and to shore up his support before elections. He may not have even thought of the ongoing negotiations and what the Taliban might think of his proposals.

The best one could hope for is that the Taliban ignore what Trump has said and just write his announcement off as part of his campaign for re-election. Trump would have been better off if he had praised the progress of negotiations and suggested that all US troops might soon be out of Afghanistan.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Iranian and Omani officials discuss safe navigation through the Stratts of Hormuz

Top officials from Oman and Iran are discussing ways to ensure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, an economically vital narrow stretch of water, according to Omani FM Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah.

Both Oman and Iran stress safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz

The Omani First Minister added that all nations need to maintain contact in order to avoid more incidents. Iran also stressed the importance of safety in the region and warned the UK that Iran would not accept any violations of regulations. Even though Iran has seized a UK tanker in response to the UK seizure of an Iranian oil tanker off Gibraltar, Iran promised to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. While western nations hostile to Iran are not likely to believe Iran's promises, Oman is broadly on good terms across the region and could add weight to what Iran promises.

Iran condemns the UK during meeting with Omani FM

A recent article in the Jerusalem Post notes: Iran President Hassan Rouhani condemned the UK while meeting with Oman’s Foreign Minister in Tehran, saying that the seizure of an Iranian tanker by UK Royal Marines earlier this month was to the “detriment” of the UK, and that Iran will “stand against any kind of violation of regulations that endangers the security of navigation in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz or Sea of Oman.” The UK says it will provide protection for its ships sailing through the area from now on.

A recent article notes: "A British warship will accompany British-flagged vessels through the Strait of Hormuz to defend freedom of navigation, a change in policy after the government previously said it did not have the military resources to do so."

Tensions between the US, the UK and Iran are high, with the US blaming Iran for several tanker attacks. The US is said to have requested that the UK seize the tanker Grace 1 off Gibraltar as well. This provoked the Iranian seizure of a UK tanker.

Previously published in the DIgital Journal

France to defend French satellites

Just ahead of recent Bastille Day celebrations, Emmanuel Macron the French president announced the creation of a space command that would be part of the French Air Force according to a Reuters' report.

Space Command would defend French satellites

Macron made the remarks to military personnel. He said the space command would have the task of defending French satellites and that the command would be officially created this September. The French Air Force he announced would be eventually renamed the Space and Air Force.

The new Space Command it appears will replace France's existing Joint Space Command that is now responsible for its space assets as well as coordinating with the military forces of other European nations.

France focusing more on space

France has the third-oldest space agency but only in recent years has it begun to focus more on space. The country plans to spend 3.6 billion euros between now and 2025 on space. In December 2018 France launched a new military reconnaissance satellite the CSO-1 and will launch more in the coming years.

Space as a domain of warfare

Over recent years space has become more militarized: "The militarisation of space involves the placement and development of weaponry and military technology in outer space. The early exploration of space in the mid-20th century had, in part, a military motivation, as the United States and the Soviet Union used it as an opportunity to demonstrate ballistic-missile technology and other technologies having the potential for military application. Outer space has since been used as an operating location for military spacecraft such as imaging and communications satellites, and some ballistic missiles pass through outer space during their flight. As of 2019, known deployments of weapons stationed in space include only the Almaz space-station armament and pistols such as the TP-82 Cosmonaut survival pistol (for post-landing, pre-recovery use)."

A number of countries have recognized space as a distinct domain of warfare added to land, sea, and air, or even within digital systems. The new French initiative appears designed to answer the problems that space-borne military infra-structure will potentially bring.

France's space command may be patterned on that of the US

In 1985 the US set up its United States Space Command as part of the US military. Its role was to oversee and coordinate US orbital assets such as satellites. However, after the 9/11 attacks it was merged into the US Strategic Command. Last year, President Trump ordered the Department of Defense to create a new Space Command that would be part of a new branch of the US military the Space Force.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Regal Cinemas to launch its own movie subscription service

Regal Cinemas is starting its own movie subscription service. The service will allow customers to watch an unlimited number of movies. The price will range from $18 to $23.50 a month depending on theater location.

The plan

The plan is called Regal Unlimited and will reportedly be launched within a week. The plans are tiered based upon theater locations. Customers in larger cities such as Los Angeles and New York need to sign up for Regal Unlimited All Access plan to find theaters that are participating in the subscription service. The service will operate through the Regal Cinemas app on iOS and Android where users can book tickets..

For each movie attended there is a $0.50 convenience fee for every movie booked through the app. There are also surcharges for special features such as 4DX, IMAX, 3D, marathons and double features. However, there are also discounts at the concession stand, and no blackout dates. Regal expects less troubles than with the now shut-down MoviePass that the Regal plan is modeled after.

The are still some competitors

While MoviePass has been shut down indefinitely, AMC Stubs A-List and Cinemark Movie Club still offer discounted tickets for a monthly fee. This site describes and compares prices on the two competitors.

Regal Cinemas

Regal Cinemas is part of a large chain of cinemas and is now under UK ownership: "Regal Cinemas, formerly known as Regal Entertainment Group, is an American movie theater chain headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee.[3] Regal operates the second-largest theater circuit in the United States, with over 7,307 screens in 564 theaters as of June 2016.[4] The three main theatre brands operated by Regal Entertainment Group are Regal Cinemas, Edwards Theatres, and United Artists Theatres.

These chains retain their exterior signage, but most indoor branding (popcorn bags, policy trailers) uses the Regal Entertainment Group name and logo. Where applicable, the REG logo is used alongside the three individual brands. Most new cinema construction uses the Regal Cinemas name, although Regal has built new Edwards locations in California and Idaho.[5] Regal has acquired several smaller chains since this merger; these, however, have been rebranded as Regal Cinemas. On December 5, 2017, it was officially announced that the UK theater chain Cineworld would acquire Regal for $3.6 billion. On February 27, 2018, the acquisition of Regal by Cineworld was completed, making it the second largest global cinema exhibitor behind AMC.[6] " The Regal Cinema's subscription service has an obviously powerful industry giant behind it. Cineworld has had its own subscription service for some time as mentioned on the appended video.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

US House of Representatives passes as two-year $1.48 trillion military spending billl

(July 26)A $1.48 trillion two-year military spending bill easily passed through the US House of Representatives by a vote of 284 for and only 149 against.

Breakdown of votes

The Democrats were mostly in favor of the bill with 219 voting for it along with 65 Republicans. Only 16 Democrats voted against the bill. 132 Republicans and an independent voted against the bill.

President Trump was quick to applaud passage of the bill, calling it a victory for the military.

The Progressive Caucus threatened in April to tank the bill, claiming that the Pentagon outlays were out of control. However, most of the caucus ended up voting for the bill pointing to the increase in domestic spending the bill will provide.

Other responses to the bill's passage

Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Mark Pocan, co-chairs of the Progressive Caucus, said in a statement before the vote, "It's not a perfect deal by any means.This deal does not address the bloated Pentagon budget, but it does begin to close the gap in funding for families, by allocating more new non-defense spending than defense spending for the first time in many years."

Executive director of Win Without War,Stephen Miles disputed the Progressive Caucus claim that the bill has more non-defense than defense spending: "Under this deal, the Pentagon and its affiliated programs will get $1.48 trillion over the next two years. The entire rest of gov't, including the VA btw, will get $1.30 trillion. That's $178.6 billion more for the Pentagon than the whole rest of gov't. So, for the love of god, can we all stop pretending like this is somehow anything other than a continued orgy of unprecedented, wasteful, and obscene spending at the Pentagon."

William Hartung, of the Centre for International Policy's Arms and Security Project also noted that the budget deal vastly overpays the Pentagon saying: "At $738 billion for Fiscal Year 2020 and $740 billion for Fiscal Year 2021, the agreement sets the table for two of the highest budgets for the Pentagon and related work on nuclear warheads at the Department of Energy since World War II. The proposed figures are higher than spending at the height of the Vietnam and Korean Wars, and substantially more than the high point of the Reagan buildup of the 1980s. And the Fiscal Year 2020 and Fiscal Year 2021 numbers are only slightly less than spending in 2010, when the United States had 180,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, roughly nine times the number currently deployed."

The bill is expected to pass in the Senate

The 2020 budget bill is expected to pass in the Senate next week. Trump has said that he would sign it. The Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has along with the president celebrated the increase in military spending in the bill. The bill has significantly more funds for the military than the Pentagon requested. McConnell said the bill met the Republicans' number one priority of providing for defense.

Bill raises debt limit

As a recent article notes: "The House on Thursday passed a bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and set budget levels for two years, taking a step toward avoiding calamity that threatens to disrupt the economy...It sets discretionary spending at about $1.37 trillion in fiscal 2020 and slightly higher in fiscal 2021. The agreement suspends the U.S. borrowing limit for two years."

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Spin, owned by Ford, to deploy 15,000 scooters in 8 US cities

(July 25) Ford-owned Spin, the dockless scooter company announced that it will deploy 15,000 scooters in eight US cities beginning this August. Spin also revealed its latest mode e-scooter with anti-theft technology and custom parts to deter vandalism.

	1 of 4

Spin has grown since Ford acquired it

Since being bought by Ford last November, Spin has grown rapidly and with the new announcement will grow even faster. When acquired the San Franciso-based company operated rentable e-scooters in nine cities and five college campuses. Today it operates in 47 cities and campuses.

Scooters to be deployed in new cities

Starting this August, Spin will deploy thousands of the new scooter in these cities: Portland, Los Angeles, Denver, Washington DC, Kansas City, Memphis, and Minneapolis, and more later. The new scooter is made in China by Segway-Ninebot a joint Chinese-American company that is backed by Xiaomi a globally-recognized scooter manufacturer.

Features of the new scooter

The frame has been enlarged and strengthened with a wider and longer platform. The brake handling-system has been improved and is more intuitive to use and responsive. There are larger 10 inch tubeless tires providing better shock absorption when traveling over rough terrain. There is real wheel drive providing better acceleration and uphill performance. There are also custom-manufactured security screws to help prevent vandalism and tampering.

The battery life has been extended so that the scooter can travel over 37 miles on one full charge. While a much smaller company than its rivals such as Bird and Lime being supported by Ford will give it time to scale its business before making a profit.

Dockless scooter sharing faces problems

During the past year the business has had problems with vandalism, injured riders, and breakdowns. These problems have caused some companies to be unable to recover their investment costs. Bird reportedly lost $100 million in 3 months and seeks new funding to the tune of $2.5 million.

Scooter sharing systems

Wikipedia describes the system for sharing scooters: "A scooter-sharing system is a service in which scooters are made available to use for short-term rentals. The term describes the sharing of mostly electric motor scooters (also referred to as electric mopeds) as well as electric kick scooters. The sharing of scooters is similar to carsharing or bicycle-sharing systems; with some scooter-sharing companies offering more than one type of vehicle via their service. Scooters are generally "dockless", meaning that they do not have a fixed home location, and are dropped off and picked up from arbitrary locations in the service area. This makes them a convenient mobility option for first-/last-mile mobility in urban areas."

Previously published in the Digital Journal

UN condemnation of Israeli demolitions blocked by the United States

(July 25) Diplomats report that a proposal by some members of the UN Security Council to condemn Israel's demolition of 10 Palestinian apartment buildings on the outskirts of Jerusalem has been blocked by the US.

US twice rejects the UN resolution

The United States first rejected the UN proposal because of the language, but then also rejected an alternative, watered-down text. It is not clear why the US did not use its veto in the first place as it often does on any resolutions critical of Israel. The motion was believed to be broadly accepted outside of the US.

Reuters reports on the demolition: "Kuwait, Indonesia and South Africa circulated a five-paragraph draft statement, seen by Reuters, to the 15-member Security Council on Tuesday that expressed grave concern and warned that the demolition “undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for just and lasting peace.” "

Israel complains that the apartments were being built illegally

Between 2006 and 2018, Israel demolished 1,401 Palestinian homes in Area C, leaving 6,207 people homeless, half of them minors.

The UN had called for Israel to halt demolition of the apartment buildings many of which are still being constructed. The demolition will displace 17 Palestinians.

Since the Israelis administer the area it is almost impossible for Palestinians to get permits. If there are disputes the issue goes to the Israeli High Court that many argue supports Israel.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

US House of Representatives passes anti-BDS bill by a huge majority 398 for 17 against

(July 23)The US House of Representatives on July 23 passed H. Res 246, a bill expressing opposition to the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement directed at Israel. The bill passed with a huge majority 398 for to just 17 against.

Rationale for the bill

Critics of BDS claim it is against US policy and is harmful to the two-state solution in the Middle East supported by the US.

The BDS

The BDS campaign is meant to put pressure on Israel over the occupation of Palestine. Specifically it puts economic pressure to cease some of its activities against Palestinians as part of the occupation.

Wikipedia describes the BDS in more detail as follows: "The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (also known as BDS) is a Palestinian-led campaign promoting various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets what the campaign describes as Israel's obligations under international law, defined as withdrawal from the occupied territories, removal of the separation barrier in the West Bank, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and "respecting, protecting, and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties".

Critics of the BDS movement claim that Israel is not an apartheid state and that there is no imposed segregation. Many critics also charge BDS is anti-Semitic.

US has long followed a pro-Israel policy on the issue

While movements boycotting countries are not that unusual, since 1977 when the Office of Antiboycott Compliance was set up, the US, especially individual states, began passing laws that try to prevent US citizens and companies from joining the BDS movement. The US has been eager to get on the record as being anti-BDS even though the House bill does not bar individuals from getting involved in the movement.

Considerable anti-BDS activity at the state level

There are now anti-BDS laws in many states with the language of the bills sometimes almost identical: "A rapid succession of states — 27 in four years — have adopted measures to curb the boycott initiative known as BDS.These new laws and executive orders have been crafted by activists, then copied from one state to the next, adopted with virtually identical language. Most require tens of thousands of state contractors to pledge not to boycott Israel — or lose their government funding. Other efforts require state pension boards to divest from companies that boycott Israel."

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has argued the bills are unconstitutional and they have been ruled as such in three states: "Last week a federal district court in Texas blocked as unconstitutional a state law that required government contractors to certify that they did not boycott Israel and would not do so over the course of their contract. With courts in Arizona and Kansas issuing similar rulings last year, that’s now three federal courts that have protected the right to engage in First Amendment-protected political boycotts—including boycotts of Israel and Israeli settlements."

Ilhan Omar's resolution

Omar, a Democratic representative, offered a competing resolution which expressed support for the right of Americans to boycott other nations, including Israel. Democratic leaders claimed the resolution was "dead on arrival" even though historically boycotts have been considered part of Americans' right to free speech. That position is held by the ACLU and at least some US courts. Yet Omar's resolution is not likely to raise serious discussion in committee let alone reach a proper vote on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Previously published in the Digital Journal

Classified mission had helicopters flying over Washington DC

(July  23)The US Army is carrying out a classified mission that involves Black Hawk and other helicopters flying over the Washington DC area.

	1 of 2

Mission revealed only through requests for funds

Bloomberg first reported on the mission: "The mysterious classified operation was disclosed when the Army asked Congress for approval to shift funds to provide an extra $1.55 million for aircraft maintenance, air crews and travel in support of an “emerging classified flight mission.”It’s part of a $2.5 billion request this month to “reprogram” funds in the current fiscal year’s budget to programs considered high priorities. “Without additional funding, the Army will not be able to perform this classified mission,” the Defense Department said."

The extra $1.55 million will be shifted for the maintenance of 10 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, to pay aircrews, and for travel. The mission includes both active-duty and reserve troops. The extra funds are also required for a Sensitive Compartment Information Facility (SCIF). This facility will be at Davison Army Airfield located at Fort Bevoir, Virginia that is due south of Washington DC.

In the funding documents the Defense Department notes: “Without additional funding, the Army will not be able to perform this classified mission."

Mission started last year

According to an Army spokesperson the mission began last year on October 1 and is ongoing. Its duration is not determined.

Army spokesperson Wayne Hall would not say whether the mission involved protecting the White House or other government buildings. He would not say either whether the mission involved the Pentagon's Special Operations Command, a group that includes the Delta Unit and Navy's Seal Team Six.

A recent article suggests who some of those involved may be: "The SCIF, together with the mention of the Black Hawks, strongly points to the unit in question being the Army's relatively obscure 12th Aviation Battalion, which is based at Davison. This unit flies a mix of UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopters and UH-60s, including a handful of modified and luxurious VIP-configured "Gold Top" Black Hawks. The 12th is part of what is known today as The Army Aviation Brigade, or TAAB, which also includes a fixed-wing VIP aviation detachment and ground support elements, including air traffic controllers, to manage operations at Davison or other locations, as necessary."

Previously published in the Digital Journal