Current Affairs - CLOSE UP Video Interviews

Ukrainian war refugee drives taxi in Prague

A Ukrainian tourist, stranded abroad by war, finds love in Paris and work as taxi driver in Prague

July 18, 2024

1903 Chestnut Hill stone building demolished for townhouse development

Experienced operating engineer demolishes historic but not historically registered stone building as part of controversial plan to replace it with 8 four story townhouses in Chestnut Hill neighborhood of northwest Philadelphia

June 28, 2022

Current Affairs ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS

Playing online game, she attacks Russian web servers

At a bake sale in support of Ukraine, a woman plays an online game that attacks Russian web servers important to Russia's military in its invasion of Ukraine.

March 24, 2022

Current Affairs INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM

American turned Israeli soldier interviewed on NPR : Palestinians are very different from you and me

Profile photo of Howard Tobochnik from Substack Clarity with Michael Oren

Your correspondent has been communicating about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a family friend’s son since he made aliyah to Israel about 7 years ago. He is now making his opinions and beliefs known on national media so I think it is timely to share historical context about his beliefs. August 6, 2024

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“Here are my thoughts… two IMPORTANT concepts to keep in mind when thinking about and discussing this issue.

First, there is A LOT of propaganda from both the Israelis and the Palestinians. Let me define propaganda. Each side has their real reasons for what they do and believe, but what they tell the world is not necessarily their real reasons, but instead what will make sense to you. They need to convince you, an American who cannot possibly relate to their situation, to take their side. So the Jews use the holocaust, saying Jews have faced antisemitism all over the world for all of history, and thus need a safe country of their own to live. This is partially true, but that’s not Zionism and that wasn’t the main reason either. The Palestinians list as their grievences: Boarders, settlements, Jerusalem as the capital, refugees. These are all legitimate grievances, but none of these are the main grievance. That means that even if Israel fixed every single one of these issues, there would not be peace because the main issue, which no American would relate with, has not been solved in their eyes.

Second, and I alluded to this in number 1, don’t ever assume that what makes sense to you, what is logical and obvious to you, is the same for the Palestinians. They come from a hugely different culture. Here is an example of what I mean, but using a different group that also was extreme. The Japanese during WWII. A mother would give her son a dagger before he went off to war in China and tell him that if he is captured, use this knife to kill himself. Death is infinitely better than the shame of being captured. And surrender or retreat is unthinkable. No American mother would ever do this. Now back to the Palestinians. They also have extreme views on martydom. But that’s not the only thing they view differently from you, there are thousands of other little examples. Just the other day someone said to me, “true, Iran is a threat, but they’d be crazy to attack Israel. They’d get obliterated by Israel or the Americans.” What he didn’t understand is that the ultra- religious Iran doesn’t calculate the pros and cons of a situation like you and me. They quite possibly will reject a deal that is too good to be true, and engage in a conflict that is ridiculously stupid and risky. Why? Because their values, life and death, motivation are different. I can think of more concrete examples if you would like, but I hope my point is clear. Real quick, a lighter example. I was with a guy, 23 years old, when he touched a dog for the first time in his life! Can you imagine that? Probably not. But most Muslims never touch dogs.

I’m all for peace. But you have to be realistic as well. Ghandi and MLK were great. Go pacifism! But that only worked because of the tolerance and morality of the US and British leadership. In Nazi Germany or Hamas’ Gaza, those guys would be dead in a minute.Gone without any influence whatsoever. Every situation is different and requires a unique approach that takes into consideration many variables of history, culture, time, place, and so much more. What worked and seems logical in one conflict is not necessarily applicable or usefull in another. And the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is intense and complicated.” [STETs not marked]

September 23, 2018

INTERVIEW with Aya Batrawy, on NPR July 9, 2024

August 6, 2021

CRIME Current Affairs HEALTH

With grace, efficiency FEMA and marines vaccinate masses against Covid-19

With participation of the U.S. Marines, FEMA vaccinates thousands of people each day against COVID-19 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.

March 16, 2021

Current Affairs Games Language

Fun with Zoom Scrabble and a new Scrabble “Cheat Sheet”

Your correspondent participates in a Scrabble group which used to meet at some place where we could eat, drink, talk and, yeah, play some scrabble. We've made the switch to…

January 27, 2021

Construction Current Affairs WORK

Trenches dug, pipes laid, switching to new water mains

Workers put in new water mains along Ardleigh Street north of Gravers Lane in Northwest Philadelphia. An excavator scoops soil to form a 5 foot deep trench. A section of…

December 21, 2020

Books CHESTNUT HILL Current Affairs

Chestnut Hill neighbors weigh in on NextDoor polls

Since September, your correspondent has been posting polls on NextDoor to inform and learn from the community, to take its pulse and to move the community on issues near and dear to him. As few as four and as many as 330 people have voted in these polls with naming the bookstore and a ban or leafblowers being the most popular. See more about NextDoor at the end of this post.

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Nov 3 POLL: DO YOU SUPPORT PROTECT THE VOTE RALLIES BEGINNING NOV 4?

Takeaway: Most support the rallies but after 16 people registered their choice, NextDoor shut down commenting but left one comment from a detractor standing. It may also have closed voting in the poll. Here's the poll link

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Nov 2 POLL: WHAT IS YOUR TOP NOV 3 ELECTION CONCERN?

Takeaway: Before the poll was taken down only hours after its posting, 17 people voted, many citing counting of mail-in ballots as top concern. 3 or 4 people had grumbled about the post as harmfully sowing anxiety.

WHAT IS YOUR TOP NOV 3 ELECTION CONCERN?Our State Rep Chris Rabb and a local computer expert don’t believe our electronic voting system is secure. https://youtu.be/2n9uraDCSng
And there are news reports of confusion over PA’s mail in ballots counting https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/02/us/politics/Pennsylvania-presidential-election.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage . Some polling places are bracing for possible voter intimidation http://www.pikecountycourier.com/news/local-news/open-carry-and-voter-intimidation-what-does-pa-law-say-DC1370036 Of course you have voted or are going to BUT WHAT IS YOUR TOP NOV 3 ELECTION CONCERN?

Mail-in ballots may not be accurately counted

Electronic voting system may be hacked

Irregularities at polling stations may negatively impact the count

Other (See my comment)

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Nov 1 POLL: DO ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS?

Takeaway: the NextDoor algorithm may have made this the last visible post on anyone's news feed

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Oct 27 POLL: HOMELESS IN MOUNT AIRY – IS THERE A RIGHT TO HOUSING?

Takeaway: 40% believe not or are unsure and since children are people, that means that nearly half are unwilling to say that children have a human right to housing.

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Oct 21 POLL: WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE OCT 22 CHESTNUT HILL LOCAL?

Takeaway: A fair amount worth saying something about. (In the 10/29 edition there is a help wanted ad for an associate editor.)

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Oct 21 POLL: DO GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS?

Takeaway: You will know your good neighbor by the good fence they build between you and them

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Oct 9 POLL: DO YOU SUPPORT BLACK LIVES MATTER OR BACK THE BLUE?

Takeaway: Of 133 votes, less than a third believe it is possible to support both

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Oct 6 POLL: WOULD YOU ATTEND A (VIRTUAL) CHESTNUT HILL TOWN HALL AND WHO MIGHT HOST?

Takeaway: There is only some interest in a virtual town hall and even less interest in the question

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Oct 5 POLL: NAME THE BOOKSTORE, THE FINALISTS ARE…

Takeaway: By a considerable plurality but with only a third as many people voting in this finalists poll as in the original poll, the peoples really like "Books on the Hill"

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Oct 2 POLL: Should the CDC require face masks?

Takeaway: The people have spoken; make facemasks the law nationwide

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Sept 28 POLL: I'M SORRY: WHAT ARE YOU SORRY ABOUT FOR POSTING ON NEXTDOOR?

Takeaway: For the most part, NextDoor users stand by what they posted

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Sep 25 POLL: IS COVID-19 POSTER AT POST OFFICE MISLEADING?

Takeaway: If you've posted to a NextDoor group with only 6 members don't expect more than 6 responses

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Sep 18 POLL: POLICE PERMANENTLY PARKED TOP OF THE HILL? PROTECTING BANKS OR PEOPLE?

Takeaway: Most people believe the police presence at the top of the Hill benefits some combination of the public and small businesses but 25% believe they are there at the bank or banks' behest. The police have not responded to a request for clarification.