I Hope The American Army Doesn’t Navigate Using Google Maps
There is an article in The Times today, which is entitled As The World Watches Kharg Island, Iran Gets Oil Out Another Way.
This is the sub-heading.
Satellite imagery reveals millions of barrels have been shipped from the ‘forgotten’ port of Jask — used only once before
The only Jask, that Google Maps can find is a marketing agency in Solihull. At least Jask,Iran finds it.
Looks a bit deserty to me!
I just had to ask Google AI if the US Army has a Camel Corps and I received this answer.
Yes, the U.S. Army operated a “Camel Corps” experiment between 1856 and 1866, using camels for logistics and supply transport in the Southwest, particularly Texas and California. While considered hardy and effective, the corps was never an official unit and was abandoned due to the Civil War, soldier preference for mules, and lack of long-term support.
Key Facts about the U.S. Army Camel Experiment:
Origin: Proposed by Jefferson Davis (then Secretary of War) and approved by Congress with a $30,000 budget.
Acquisition: Around 70 camels were imported from the Mediterranean (Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia) in two shipments.
Operation: The camels were based primarily at Camp Verde, Texas, transporting cargo across desert terrains.
Key Leaders: Major Henry C. Wayne directed the experiment, and Lt. Edward F. Beale praised the camels’ endurance in reports.
End of Project: The program was abandoned during the Civil War. Confederate forces captured some camels, and the remaining herd was sold at auction in 1864-1866.
While the camels themselves were durable, they were often disliked by soldiers due to their difficult temperament compared to mules. Some camels were sold to miners or escaped, leading to reports of wild camels in the Southwest for decades following the experiment.
Condor Celebrates Inaugural Flight Of New Frankfurt–London Gatwick Route
The title of this post is the same as that of this press release from Condor.
This is the sub-heading.
Condor today launched its new city connection between Frankfurt am Main (FRA) and London Gatwick (LGW). With the inaugural flight, the British capital is now officially part of Condor’s city network. The route will be operated three times daily with a schedule designed to appeal equally to business travellers and city tourists. Flights are operated using Condor’s Airbus A320 aircraft, offering capacity for 180 passengers in a two-class configuration, including Business Class and Economy Class with the standard 3-3 seating layout. In addition, Condor cooperates with partner airlines on this route.
These three paragraphs add more details.
With this new connection, Condor is expanding its city network to include one of Europe’s most important metropolitan hubs, thereby strategically strengthening its presence in the European market. To mark the inaugural flight from London Gatwick, departing passengers on the fully booked service were welcomed with a small reception and gifts before the flight departed punctually for Frankfurt am Main.
David Carlisle, Director Network and Partnerships at Condor, said: “Today’s inaugural flight to London Gatwick marks another important milestone in the expansion of our European route network. London is one of Europe’s most sought-after destinations, both for business travellers and short city breaks. We are delighted to offer our guests up to three daily frequencies, providing maximum flexibility as well as convenient access to our long-haul network to Africa and Asia.”
Jonny Macneal, Head of Aviation Development at London Gatwick, added: “We are delighted to welcome Condor to London Gatwick and to offer our passengers even greater choice with this new, frequently operated service to Frankfurt. Whether travelling for business, leisure or to visit friends and family, the route provides excellent flexibility and connectivity. Condor’s arrival marks another important milestone during a period of significant growth for the airport.”
The press release also has these two last paragraphs, which give more information about the airline.
London is one of Europe’s leading economic and financial centres and also one of the most popular destinations for city travel. The new connection offers business travellers excellent access to the Greater London area as well as flexible options for day trips. Leisure travellers benefit from convenient flight times for weekend getaways.
In addition to the launch of London Gatwick, Condor continues to expand its network. From May, Barcelona, Budapest and Venice will be added as new destinations, bringing the total number of city destinations in the Condor network to 13. With these additions, Condor is further strengthening its presence in high growth markets and continuing to expand its European route network. Flights can be booked online at http://www.condor.com, via telephone or through travel agencies.
It is certainly one of the best-written and information-rich press releases, that I have seen.
If the attention to detail is as good in the way the airline is run is half as good, Condor will be worth giving a try.
This page is their TripAdvisor reviews.
Gatwick Airport Is Expanding
I picked up the news of Condor Airlines new service from one of my Google Alerts about Gatwick Airport’s proposed new runway.
These were the titles of the news articles in the alert.
- Simple Flying – Unbelievable! The UK’s 2nd-Busiest Airport Welcomes 5th New Airline In 11 Days
- MSN – London Gatwick confirms 9th new airline in massive 2026 shakeup
- Aviation A2Z – Condor Begins First UK Route with 3 New Daily Flights to This Airport
- Yahoo News UK – Airline launches first-ever UK route from Gatwick Airport to popular European city
- AviationSource News – Condor Launches New Frankfurt to London Gatwick Route
- Aviation24.be – Condor launches Frankfurt–London Gatwick route with three daily flights, marking UK debut
- Travel Wires – Condor launches first UK route with Gatwick–Frankfurt service
- Travel And Tour World – Frankfurt & London: New Condor Flights Spark Hope and Joy at London Gatwick Airport, UK
There is also this headline about Air France.
- Aviation24.be – Air France returns to London Gatwick with new twice-daily Paris CDG service
Gatwick seems to be doing well to be welcoming nine new airlines in 2026 and five in the last eleven days.
Perhaps, some honest accounting have convinced those nine airlines, that Gatwick’s new runway, won’t raise charges as much as Heathrow’s.
UK Steel Industry Backed By Major New Trade Measure And Strategy
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from UK Government.
These three bullet points act as sub-headings.
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Landmark new Steel Strategy sets ambition for up to 50% of steel used in the UK to be made in the UK, boosting production from 30%.
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UK will introduce new trade measure to support national security by preserving vital steel production for critical national infrastructure and defence.
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Steel import quotas will be reduced with higher tariffs of 50% outside of quotas, ensuring the UK steel sector’s future in the face of global overcapacity.
These three paragraphs add details.
On a visit to Tata Steel Port Talbot to meet steelworkers and launch the Strategy, the Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle announced the Government’s ambition to boost domestic production so that it can meet up to 50% of our domestic demand for steel, and secure the industry’s role in supporting vital UK sectors like infrastructure, defence and clean energy.
Building on the direct financial support the government has made so far, the National Wealth Fund will be the government’s main mechanism for providing up to £2.5 billion of financing for investment in the steel sector this Parliament. The Steel Strategy forms a vital part of the Government’s activist and strategic approach to British industry, taking decisive action to give businesses the certainty and support they need in uncertain times and bolstering the UK’s resilience.
Today, the UK also announces that from 1 July 2026, overall quota levels for steel imports will be significantly reduced by 60% compared to current arrangements, and steel coming into the UK above these levels will be subject to a 50% tariff.
A Thought On The Texas Floods
I asked Google AI, if Texas is bad for natural disasters.
This was the reply.
Yes, Texas is known to be susceptible to a high number of natural disasters, particularly when compared to other states in the US. Texas experiences a wide variety of natural hazards, including hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, hail storms, sinkholes, and droughts. The state has also experienced earthquakes, potentially linked to the extraction of natural resources like oil and gas.
I certainly wouldn’t want to live there, as my one experience of a bad storm in the UK nearly killed me. I wrote about my experiences in The Great Storm.
Historic Ye Olde Swiss Cottage Pub Calls Time
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub-heading.
An historic north-west London pub which a Tube station and the surrounding area was named after has closed having been in business for nearly two centuries.
These paragraphs add detail to the story.
Campaigners are hoping Ye Olde Swiss Cottage can be saved after its operator, Samuel Smith’s Brewery, closed the pub on Saturday.
The brewery did not respond to BBC London’s questions over the fate of the uniquely designed pub.
Joanne Scott, from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said its closure was a “real loss for the local community and also for London”.
Swiss Cottage Tube station and the local area both took their name from the pub which has stood on the site since the 1830s.
It is not known why it was designed in the style of a Swiss chalet but has become a local landmark.
As I was in the area today, visiiting Finchley Road coach stop and it was a lovely sunny day, I went and took these pictures.
Although in the early 1970s, c, myself and our three boys lived within walking distance of this pub, I can’t remember ever visiting it. If we did go out because of the expense of a babysitter, we usually went to the theatre, a cinema or a restaurant.
In those days, the only pub we visited regularly, was the New Merlin’s Cave, where we would go with friends to see George Melly and John Chilton’s Feetwarmers.
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Bristol May Be First English City To Face Monthly Black Bin Collection
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in The Times.
This is the sub-heading.
More than 4,000 Bristolians are opposing the council’s plan to switch to a four-week cycle, which the city says would save money and be better for the environment
I live in Hackney and we still have two-weekly collections for recyclables and weekly for waste food.
These are my thoughts on Bristol.
As a widower, who lives alone , I don’t put much in my black bin, as I do recycle properly and use my waste food bin and green sack recycling fully.
I’ve also noticed, that a lot more items have been marked that they can go in the green sacks.
I am a coeliac and suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency for which I get three-monthly injections at the GP. But that is not enough and I have found that one of M& S’s Liver and Bacon Ready Meals adds enough B12 to keep be going at full speed.
The trays of M & S’s Ready Meals are now recyclable and I suspect, they’re not the only packaging, that can now be recycled.
So as more and more packing is recycled, we can surely reduce the black bin frequency.
It would appear, that by making packaging more recyclable, we can make rubbish collection more efficient.
Lumo Launches A 0.5% Beer For The New Year In Partnership With A Newcastle Brewing Company
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the Cumberland Gazette.
This is the sub-heading.
Lumo has launches a locally-sourced, low-alcohol beer in partnership with Newcastle’s Donzoko Brewing Company to be available on services between Edinburgh and London.
These two paragraphs add a bit more detail.
Big Nothing 0.5% will be available in time for the new year, aimed towards those taking part in giving up alcohol for Dry January. The addition is part of Lumo’s commitment to providing locally sourced onboard options as part of the catering offer on its services on the East Coast route.
The release of the drink comes after the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) reported a 45% increase in alcohol-related incidents during the festive period last year.
I shall be trying some of this beer next time I travel on Lumo.
Gates Open On Thames Tideway Tunnel Super Sewer
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC.
This is the sub heading.
The first four sites along London’s new “super sewer” – officially known as the Thames Tideway Tunnel – have been brought into operation.
These are the first two paragraphs.
The valves, which operate like giant gates, are being used at four of the 21 locations that make up the system.
The rest are due to come online in the coming months, with the sewer operating at full capacity by 2025.
Note.
- The BBC article contains a video.
- The Thames Tideway has a web site.
Finally, more of London’s sewage is on its way to Beckton.
This map shows there’s even a lighthouse on the River Thames.
Nicki Minaj Freed After Arrest At Amsterdam Airport
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the BBC,
This is the sub-heading.
American rapper Nicki Minaj has been freed by police after being detained at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
These three paragraphs give more details.
Dutch police posted on X: “We have just released a 41-year-old American woman whom we arrested this afternoon at Schiphol on suspicion of exporting soft drugs.”
“The suspect was fined and can continue her journey.”
The artist had been due to fly to Manchester for a concert at the Co-op Live venue on Saturday evening.
Note.
- I think, she has been very lucky.
- She has been very disrespectable to her fans.
- As someone, who lost his son, partly because he smoked both cannabis and tobacco, I find her behaviour disgusting.
Let’s hope the Border Force send her back to Amsterdam, so that she realises the consequences of her stupid behaviour.
The Anonymous Widower 