Or Karl Marx Stadt as it was called in the DDR era. The tram system was a strange 925 mm gauge. See earlier posts.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
traffic in Chemnitz, DDR, 1980
Or Karl Marx Stadt as it was called in the DDR era. The tram system was a strange 925 mm gauge. See earlier posts.
Istanbul trams, 1965
This was the year before the original tramways were closed. However, a modern tram was reintroduced in 1990. There are now two separate heritage tramlines which use cars like the ones shown. Wikipedia article
a study in diplomacy: Egypt's Foreign Minister refuses to criticize Israeli Defense Forces
In the U.S. right now the Democrats (and the media) regularly set traps for Donald Trump, which he regularly falls into. The art of diplomacy is when you're trying to maintain good relations with two sides who don't like each other in not saying things that upset one side, or at least not too much. This was the situation the U.S. found itself in during the Falkland Islands war in 1982 after Argentina enforced its claim to them by occupying them and Britain went to get them back by military action.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry caused an angry stir in the Arab world on Sunday when he said that Israel’s actions do not constitute terrorism against Palestinians.
The comment, made at a Q&A session with students at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, was in response to a question about why the Egyptian government does not condemn Israeli and American actions in the Middle East as acts of terrorism, reported Ynet.
“We can look at this issue and define it as a ‘rule by force,'” replied Shoukry. “However, there is nothing to suggest that there is any connection between Israel and terrorist organizations. There is nothing that leads to this conclusion.”
He continued on to defend Israel’s protective measures, suggesting that from some perspectives, Israel’s strength in terms of security is a result of “dealing with a lot of challenges” which have threatened that security ever since the state was established in 1948.
Read more
Relations between Israel and Palestinians are always thorny; most of the Arab world and its news channels like Al Jazeera sides with the Palestinians so Egypt has to be careful in what it says publicly.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry caused an angry stir in the Arab world on Sunday when he said that Israel’s actions do not constitute terrorism against Palestinians.
The comment, made at a Q&A session with students at the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, was in response to a question about why the Egyptian government does not condemn Israeli and American actions in the Middle East as acts of terrorism, reported Ynet.
“We can look at this issue and define it as a ‘rule by force,'” replied Shoukry. “However, there is nothing to suggest that there is any connection between Israel and terrorist organizations. There is nothing that leads to this conclusion.”
He continued on to defend Israel’s protective measures, suggesting that from some perspectives, Israel’s strength in terms of security is a result of “dealing with a lot of challenges” which have threatened that security ever since the state was established in 1948.
Read more
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
narrow gauge Fiat Littorina railcar in Eritrea, 1940s
For the country's 950 mm gauge line into the mountains. Info here
(John Brantley pics from the late 1940s)
the Muslim migrant flow from Eritrea and Somalia to Europe gets worse
According to a BBC news item, Italy has received 112,000 economic migrants this year, 50% up on last year. These migrants mostly make a long land journey through Libya as Egyptian security forces try to prevent them from using Egypt as a transit route to Europe or Israel.
The International Organization for Migration says there are a further 275,000 migrants in Libya waiting to travel. Overall, about 284,000 migrants have entered Europe so far this year.
Fiat railcar in Turkey
to Southend by the District Railway poster, England
Kantara Station, Egypt, circa 1912
The loco could be a 4-6-0 built by North British of Scotland (photo below of one taken at Zagazig station in 1915 during WW1).
Monday, August 29, 2016
Canadian Pacific railway line in the Fraser River canyon at Yale, BC
The railway is the S shape pretty much in the lower centre. The CN line was later built on the opposite side of the river through the more difficult ground.
1980 Citroen Karin
Pic via the Retrospace blog.
Esmee and the 1940 Opel Olympia
Driving wasn't so simple in those days. The car didn't always start quickly and the gears are difficult to handle with double clutching needed.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
double deck tram to Island Bay, Wellington, circa 1910
On Kent Terrace, just having made a right turn from Courtenay Place out of sight to the right (the view below from about the same era). Across the grass median is Cambridge Terrace. For lots more, see the books Wellington: a Capital century and Wellington Transport Memories.
once upon a time on the Otago Central Railway
In July 1935 a steam-hauled passenger train passes curlers on the frozen water near Oturehua. For lots more, see the book The Otago Central Railway: a tribute
SNCF poster, 1947
"Do you know all the services that the SNCF can provide you? Your station is there to inform you."
Saturday, August 27, 2016
ships in Sydney harbour, circa 1900
Vijay Prashad: Turkey's offensive against ISIS & press crackdown is really just war on Kurds
The item on Turkey starts at 13:55
Friday, August 26, 2016
Czechs show what they think of Mama Merkel and her Muslims, Prague
When she showed up there today. The headline of the video below asserts there was 'an assassination attempt' on her, but that seems extravagent.
What this simply again shows, however, is that Mama Merkel and her sycophants are leading the EU on a path of self-destruction--which may not be a bad thing.
Amtrak's 'Pacific Surfliner' approaches Solana Beach, California, northbound
This train runs from San Luis Obispo through L.A. to San Diego. (Amtrak pic)
Rotterdam rail cleaning tramcar, Holland
One of two 2-axle cars obtained from the German firm of Schörling in Hannover; ordered in 1928 and delivered in 1930. As can be seen they were used also as mobile billboards.
The operation was vacuum cleaner style. The two noses were water tanks and water was sprayed onto the rails. Two chisels chopped debris from the rail grooves which was sucked through two nozzles with a powerful suction.
They were withdrawn in 1975. More info and lots of pics here
anti-jihad campaigner Pamela Geller's ads for London taxis get censored
With an Islamist now the mayor of London, who's surprised? (See this article)
Back in June I reported that we were starting a new ad campaign to run on London taxis. It consisted simply of quotes from Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, such as “I have been made victorious through terror.”
I was told by John Kehoe, a representative of Media Agency in London that the London buses would not accept my ads, despite the fact that the buses were running ads proclaiming the greatness of Allah. It was Media Agency that suggested I run the ads on taxis instead. I agreed.
I had signed contacts and paid in full on May 13. On that day, we released an announcement: AFDI- Taxi Supersides Contract Between Media Agency Group and Pamela Geller is Signed and Filed!
On June 27, I wrote to John: “John, Please confirm that the ads are up and running today.” On June 28, I received this email from Gabrielle Conneely of Transport Media:
Hi Pamela,
Apologies for the delay in getting back to you, john did pass me your email last night to give you an update,
All taxis are now posted and on the road J
Thanks
Gabi
But here’s the thing: the ads never ran.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Russia's President Putin wants to be a Middle East peacemaker, says Egypt's President el-Sisi
Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to host an Israeli-Palestinian summit to revive peace talks, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said in an interview published on Monday.
Sisi also told state newspaper editors that he believed Israel was increasingly convinced of the need for a peace deal, saying it was a "positive sign".
But Palestinian infighting between Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah in the West Bank remained an obstacle, he added.
Talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas have been suspended since 2014, despite a push by Washington and France to resume the peace process.
Sisi, who is seen as having good ties with both Israel and the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, has also been pushing for a resumption of negotiations.
"Putin has told me that he is ready to receive both [Abbas] and Netanyahu in Moscow to carry out direct talks to find a solution and solve the issue," Sisi said.