Nice and mystical, but it is al in the title. The guardian gives us (at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/15/uae-oil-pipeline-strait-of-hormuz-by-2027) ‘UAE to complete second oil pipeline bypassing strait of Hormuz by 2027’ as such, with a year the problem with the strait of Hormuz and posing a setting for Iran, it is taken out of the equation. I admit that it is simpler than digging a trench from Sharjah to the east coast of the UAE, it is simpler and as such I love the idea. We are given “Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, has directed the UAE state oil company to fast-track the previously undisclosed project so that the pipeline can begin carrying oil from the emirates to the port of Fujairah by 2027. The new pipeline is expected to double the UAE’s export capacity via the existing Habshan-Fujairah pipeline which can carry up to 1.8m barrels a day to the port on the Gulf of Oman.” I am considering the idea that optionally expanding that port would give way to a fleet of tankers parking (5-8 ships). It would enable additional options as well, but it is straight out of mind thinking and I have no idea what there is now. There is the setting that these ships might require overhauls, but that is because I have seen the needs of takers in my youth in Rotterdam (predominantly Europoort & Maasvlakte) and I think that similar conditions might be required. So whilst we accept that “The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the only Gulf producers with pipelines that export crude outside the narrow waterway running between Iranian and Omani territory.” The fact that the UAE deleted itself from OPEC opens up other settings, they would have no limits to go though which they apparently had in the past, as such they could release close to their own maximum settings overriding what was previously allowed through OPEC. So, as I see it “Leaving the oil cartel was expected to allow the UAE, the group’s third-largest oil producer, to pump more oil than the group’s future production quotas may allow once the conflict ends and normal trade through the strait of Hormuz resumes.”
There is the idea that this might (I am completely uncertain about this) be paid back in mere months after which that new pipeline will bring in a pretty penny and restores the old prices of oil by 2028/2029. It would be nice to see Iran lose another setting, which they will oppose, but it is out of the waters of Iran, so they don’t get to have a word on this. And as Iran made it a case to bomb the UAE for all it could, it is nice to see them come in last in a race with limited players.
So whilst we see “The UAE’s departure has laid bare the long-running tensions between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, with the Saudis normally favouring strict production quotas to keep oil prices high enough to support their economic agenda. The exact capacity of the new pipeline has not been disclosed but doubling its existing capacity to 3.6m barrels a day would bring the UAE’s pipeline exports closer to that of Saudi Arabia, which can transport roughly 7m barrels a day from its eastern oilfields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, of which 5m barrels are exported.” And with that Iran will have angered the Arabic nations to another level, because it will dig into the Saudi pennies and they will not accept that lying down. If only they have refrained from bombing the Arabic nations, they might not have gotten themselves into this predicament a clear showing of how limiting the Iranian thinking patterns are. A clear setting that pretty much any oil country could have considered and now we see where that is getting them. For the UAE, who got this project started it means that several advances will get green lighted sooner rather than later.
So have a great day and consider that the UAE got a solution working in weeks and it is more elegant that my solution of making a canal, so the bulk of tankers don’t have to look at Iran at all. Simplicity itself.
I was made aware of two events, one less than 2 hours ago. Both by the CBC, the first one (at https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/u-s-duties-tariffs-canadian-mushrooms-9.7200052) gives us ‘U.S. to slap tariffs on Canadian mushrooms as growers warn of broader risks for agriculture’ with the byline “U.S. pointing to agricultural tax exemptions as justification for countervailing duties” there is a seemingly wrong stance on this. We are also given “A U.S. Commerce Department fact sheet released this week and shared with CBC by the Canadian Mushroom Growers’ Association says that following an investigation, the U.S. government will be hitting Canadian fresh mushrooms with tariffs of between 1.6 and five per cent. Countervailing duties are slapped on imports judged to be unfairly subsidized. Similar U.S. investigations have resulted in duties on Canadian softwood lumber for decades.” So whilst we see that this is unfair, the article does bring out a few parts that might show that American mushroom growers can see that they are unfairly handled. At this point there is a setting that the US government should intervene. It is also clear that this is not due to the growers, but by clever supermarket entrepreneurs who see tax exemptions to get cheaper goods and I get that they do this, but this trap, which was always a hidden trap, might be blowing up in the faces of all. We then get “CBC news asked Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald’s office for a statement regarding the mushroom duties. A spokesperson pointed CBC News to Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s office for comment. LeBlanc’s office deferred to Global Affairs Canada, which has yet to offer a statement. The U.S. also launched a separate investigation which could result in further anti-dumping tariffs on mushrooms later this year.” In this case I would hand the reader: “is this anti-dumping or clever supermarket purchase policies?” There are different angles at looking at the dice that some are playing with. And this almost directly relates to the second article (at https://www.cbc.ca/news/investigates/sobeys-loblaw-maple-washing-9.7196767) where we see ‘Sobeys, Loblaw under fire for maple washing, as Sobeys ditches maple leaf symbol in stores’ which is accompanied by “Federal regulator has identified 127 cases of maple washing by retailers since the start of 2025”, the conspiracy theorists will blame American intervention, but I am seeing a place where those purchasing for supermarkets that they are on a sliding scale of disaster and they are choosing to level that sliding scale by a lot. So when we see “More than a year after the Buy Canadian movement took root, grocery giants Loblaw and Sobeys are facing increased scrutiny over “maple washing” the practice of promoting imported goods as homegrown.” And it is where we see “The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) slapped two Loblaw-owned stores in January with $10,000 fines each for maple washing, and one month later, two other Loblaw-owned stores got formal warnings for the same violation, CBC News has learned. Sobeys is also on the CFIA’s radar. The federal food regulator told CBC it has received multiple complaints about the grocer and maple washing and has wrapped up an investigation into advertising practices overseen by Sobeys head office.” I am thinking that it is time for a change. It is time for the Commonwealth when not producing their own goods, to buy Canadian /Commonwealth.
A combines sticker with the flags of Canada, UK, Australia, new Zealand, India, Jamaica (full be honest, I am including Jamaica to complete a set of six). When this purchasing setting is invoked there will be several changes. When we prefer our (near) local produce over American produce, there will be a change in several ways and as I see it, the supermarkets can either adapt or go under. Canada did not start this war, but with the help of the Commonwealth it can finish it. And for those having stock in Sobeys and Loblaw can either sell whatever stock they have or lose a massive amount of money. When the bulk of the Canadians walk away from these two brands, these brands will feel the hurt of no sales really quickly. Some will debate that America started all this and as such they should pay and I am not deaf to that premise, but these two providers set the change in motion and that should not be rewarded either.
As such we have options and I reckon that if the UK, Australia and New Zealand follow Canada in taking American alcohol off the shelves the impact will be seen to a much larger extent. And it benefits the Commonwealth too, Gin from UK, Whiskey from UK and Canada, Rum from Australia, and there are a few combinations that will give the Commonwealth the investment in their own products. I reckon that it will take less than a year for over a 100 brands to fall into receivership. Good idea from this US administration to cry ‘America First’ so when that implode on their plates we can move on towards cars and a few other items. There is great satisfaction in this, but there is another setting. The stage where we see that there is justice in anti-dumping tariffs and the United States has a valid point in protecting its home made produce and these two articles do not bear this out. But that might be my view on the matter. What does matter is that these two articles show that Canada is sailing a narrow margin boat across heavy waves and there will be enough casualties on both sides of the border to consider that there needs to be another way. Because that is seemingly overlooked and perhaps these two points are not as simple as they seem because there are several issues in play.
I am an RPG minded (lost cause), just started Skyrim again for the umpteenth time. I played that game on XBox360, PS3, XBox one, PS4, PS5. I never regretted any hour in that game and it must have been over 3000 hours now. This time I noticed a few things. Like a sword and shield floating 25 meters in the air before I got to level 3. So there are glitches in the game, whether it is from continuous gaming or whatever reason it was, but there is no anger, no frustration. This is 2010 technology and it has held up for 16 years. In gaming that pretty much amounts to an eternity.
But it is not about the Elder scrolls or Bethesda. It is about gaming requires an update, or more games and at present I do not trust Microsoft to have the need of the gamers in mind, themselves, their investors and their bottom line. The gamer is at best a 5th priority. And I saw this evolve with Subnautica 2 allegedly only coming on Xbox and Windows. The first one was quite excellent and original, as such Sony (Nintendo too) will need additional RPG challenges and there is a need to go beyond Bethesda. They are now part of Microsoft. It is legit and all very valid. Microsoft was able and did the ‘better’ thing for them, not for gaming and not for gamers.
But I draw the line at ‘replicating’ the same idea. It is plagiarism. I voiced an idea about 10 years ago. If Sony makes a deal with Richard Garriott and acquire his Ultimate IP. That in a 3D setting could become a great franchise that could be the fiercest competitor for Bethesda and the Ultimate fanbase is a decade older than the one Bethesda has and as I see it, there are millions of gaming fans that would love to walk in 3D through Sosaria and live its lore. There is a need to adjust some of the gameplay to make this a fist person game, but that is manageable. What is important that between 1981 and 2003 Richard created a massive amount of lore and now that could get a second life, through the eyes of Mondain and as such there is a larger consideration to weigh. How to create an IP that would support Sony and Nintendo. They are not alike and I would be happy to get it on my Sony, but I feel for the Nintendo users, they need something too. Perhaps Richard will have his own thoughts on that.
The second setting is Subnautica, there is no copying that. It is original and they deserve the laurels that come with it, it is alas one the wrong system. So I started to mull things over. When it comes to water, the only IP that is set n water is Bioshock. So what if 2K changes the storyline and the challenges, but largely follows the graphics (to some extent) and the views on the matter. Take away the ADAM and you have the beginning of a new RPG and as the Bioshock games are almost 20 years old there is a valid case of reusing that setting is a stage that 2K should consider. On the other hand, setting this in space and you get too close to System Shock and that shouldn’t happen. So we get a third option (I was steering towards this from the start) a new RPG that is Arabic driven. I would accept that, but how to set the lore? The idea is to map out Hegra and AlUla map the entire region and set the 1001 Arabian nights stories as a backdrop. Find all the stories and the characters in these stories. A game with an educational character as an RPG. When was this done before. I am certain that it has been done. I can’t be the first to consider this.
And AlUla has an approximate 60K population, so there is enough options for NPC collaboration. But how to make it realistic and entertaining? Well, the idea is that as you start the conversation with the proper NPC, you get to switch and become one of characters in the story and then the store plays out, you play out the story and as this is done 1001 times, there is a chance that this game comes in parts, the main part and over time the DLC’s add the other stories. I reckon that would be first and this setting could be release on Sony (Playstation) and Nintendo (Switch2). It is an option and I wonder how this will reverberate in the Arabic countries. A game that brings to life all 1001 Arabian Night stories. I wonder who could pull it off, I don’t want to offer it to the usual suspects and as this largely concerns Saudi Arabia and as they have this gaming setting, perhaps they can give the world this RPG game. And that is how it is done. A brainstorm with a population of one. I reckon that this is where I slowly turn gaga (nyuk, nyuk, nyuk).
And this solution could be applied to both systems, but with the Nintendo, you might have a smaller view of the world you are in. And in the end it will be about that game, that game the opens up a whole range of new games, ideas and copies. It happens and perhaps now it will happen for Saudi Arabia and the progression of Arabian lore. Have a great day.
In my previous blog I Kida promised a little present for the Abu Dhabi Media Network and I tend to be a person of my word. It started on Monday, I was thinking back to the movie of Little Lord Fauntleroy, based on a book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I remember the 1980 version with Ricky Schroder and Sir Alec Guinness. Young Cedrics father was disowned because he married out of the aristocracy, the father had died years ago, but due to death in the family, his two older brothers mainly, Cedric is now the only heir to the title Earl of Dorincourt and he is sought out by Mr. Havisham, Dorincourt’s solicitor and a new life awaits him. But not to get to deep into the story. The setting could be converted to an islamic setting to some extent. If a person is not fully family, but in case of an accident the setting might change. I reckon that a ‘feel good’ movie of that kind might be welcome to the Islamic audience. As I am still a fan of Scott Ridley, I was thinking that the ‘new’ role replacing Sir Alec Guinness should be played by the Syrian actor Ghassan Massoud who made an excellent Saladin. Alexander Siddig (who played Imad) might make an excellent solicitor to Ghassan Massoud (basically he would become the new Mr. Havisham) Some adjustments might be made, because too much alike and it becomes plagiarism. The family might have fallen victim to an American (or Israeli) bombing (and with the current settings in Iran, such an accident might come across as very convincing. I reckon that the Abu Dhabi Media Network will have their own version of Cedric. I reckon that if the UAE is increasing its stamp on the western world a collection of feel good movies might have a much larger appeal than just Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia. And to focus on the setting of an average person to be thrust into the world of palaces, sheikhs and wealth might turn a few heads too.
Little Lord Fauntleroy was also done in 1921 and 1936, but I never saw those. I initially saw the movie in the cinema and whilst that movie has the big setting in the Christmas dinner, this version might be around Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha, which one I leave to the scriptwriters in Abu Dhabi. You can’t expect me to do it all and also, I am not Muslim, so I might get a few things wrong. But the setting of expansion for the Abu Dhabi Media Network is to go through the old masterworks and which works could be redone with Islamic paints and brushes. I am decently certain that Rudyard Kiplings Jungle book is out of the question, mostly because Rudyard based Mowgli on Arvind Krishna who is now working for IBM (small giggle from my side). I also reckon that Peter Pan is a miss for obvious reasons. But the idea to give Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes a rewrite is not out of the question. So consider that we are considering:
“the adventures of a man who, driven mad by reading too many American comic books and watching TV, as such he becomes a Djinn slayer and travel the cities as a aspiring demon slayer with help from a friend who is bound to keep him out of trouble. He calls himself Sbiristun the Djinn slayer and keeps on meeting a woman who he wants to impress, but she is an actual Djinn and sees Sbiristun as a fun escape from her immortality. So whilst she sends him on tours involving capers on reality and illusion interacting with madness and sanity and his friend does not see what see what he sees and this is where the madness starts.”
Well, that is all I have for now, perhaps the Abu Dhabi Media Network sees options in both settings. If they do, they are welcome to it. As such another blow to the mundane life by creativity, have a great day everyone. I see that Vancouver is still on yesterday and it is not even breakfast time there yet.
That is the setting and whether you call it a yellow cap or a golden dome is up to you, but beware, a simple top of mind gives this a weird setting. CBC gives us (at https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/golden-dome-trump-cbo-cost-estimate-9.7196982) ‘Budget office estimates Trump’s proposed Golden Dome will have trillion-dollar price tag over 20-year period’ and I thought that this was another bleak idea (right along the Trump Gold Card, which apparently is a huge failure with one sell, which was allegedly given as a present) and that was it for me, but then the CBC gives me the one line that opens the debate.
It was “Somewhat inspired by Israeli defences”, so you think that changing the name from Iron to Golden does the trick? Consider the implications. It works for Israel as it is roughly the size of New Jersey. Consider Texas, that state with Netflix issues (see yesterdays blog) is 10 times the size of New Jersey. It could be attacked from the south by Mexico border, the SouthEast amphibious/Cuba, West/North via Cruise missiles and then we get that Israel is mostly like minded, in the United States the threat of Asymmetric/Internal Threats is decently real. And this is merely one state. As I see it, Texas, Florida, California, Washington State, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia sets a new chapter all together. My (massively inaccurate) setting throws the amount between $3 trillion and $5 trillion and that is when the massive write offs happen, an economy that cannot afford anywhere near that amount. As such that $1 trillion over 20 years will need critical investigations. The setting is simple. Consider that the Israel can fit into the United States 465 times (approximately) and now consider that the Iron Dome is set to United States parameters and not made out of gold (pewter is more like it), that equation doesn’t even get close to do its work when we see the impact on what the Iron Dome would need to do in the United States. I think I am merciful when I think it s a mere 3-5 trillion that bill might be significantly larger. So when we see “The U.S. Golden Dome is envisioned to include ground and space-based capabilities able to detect, intercept and stop missiles at all major stages of a potential attack. Congress has already approved roughly $24 billion US for the missile defence initiative through Republicans’ massive tax and spending measure signed into law last summer.” As such the ability to detect might require an upgrade (an idea that the movie a house of dynamite (2025) gave me). And that is merely attacks from missiles. The setting that the United States faces through asymmetric sets these detection methods on lose wheels. That all requires manpower, construction and a few more kinks can show up. The cyber settings will become almost humongous and for the most they cannot predict what is next, some can’t see what is a threat now, but that is a different story. As I see it, Israel has had decades to create the iron dome settings and they did it will, but to apply this to a nation the size of the United States is rather ludicrous, on a side note, Canada would equally be unable to deploy a system like that, the cost alone would cripple the Canadian economy, only so that “The Boss” can sleep safely at night? Good luck with that idea.
As such I have no idea what gave the Pentagon (or related people) the idea that this is a workable idea? I get that the united States might want to upgrade its defenses, but to throw it at a gimmick that has no foundation on reality is as I personally see it beyond silly.
So whilst the article ends with “Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, who requested the estimate from the CBO, said in response to the report that the missile defence project is “nothing more than a massive giveaway to defence contractors paid for entirely by working Americans.”Last May, the president said the Golden Dome would cost $175 billion US. The CBO last year estimated that just the space-based components of the Golden Dome could cost as much as $542 billion US over the next 20 years.” I seem to be on the side of Senator Jeff Merkley because it is as I see it more than a massive giveaway to defence contractors. It requires a lot more and it would requires military technicians and a massive monitoring issue on all these missiles and observation posts, Then you get exclude zones for these places and even as some will be the same, it might require a lot more and that is where the shoes become too uncomfortable to wear. As I see it, it requires a total overhaul of a system that was decent to begin with, which will make it prone to overhaul issues and the cyber nightmare that follows to overhaul it all is merely the beginning. There are a few more issues where I have no knowledge, as such I will not know all the issues but when I look at this from the ground at a distance, there is no way that $1 trillion will cover that and as such someone needs to take a critical look at this and I wonder what pentagon involvement was handed to the CBO in this. Just a thought to entertain. Well that is that from me, I will continue tonight on a better fairy tale, one that will grant Abu Dhabi TV the option to give muslim channels a desire to connect to Abu Dhabi TV channels. I can make fairy tales too, I merely hand them to the audiences to gasp at, no fear needed. Merely good feelings. Have a great day.
It was initially the BBC who alerted me to this (at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c072dvv1rmro) where we see ‘Texas accuses Netflix of spying on users, including children’ and I got curious, because it is not a issue with the United States, it isn’t even global, it is just Texas. The story kicks off with “Netflix has been sued in Texas over claims it collects data belonging to children and adults in the US state without their consent, and uses “addictive” design to keep them hooked. accused the streaming giant of “spying” on citizens saying it “records and monetizes billions” of pieces of information about how users behave on the platform, despite suggesting otherwise.” It gave me a few questions (just a few) and it starts of here with the questions “How does one record and monetise billions?”, as well as “What exactly is “addictive” design?” You see, to the best off my knowledge you sign up and you get Netflix (that is how we do that in Australia) and perhaps there are better ways to do this, but that is what it is and it is still better then Disney+ (in regards to able the watchers). I have never seen the Mandalorian of BlueRay, or several other Disney+ hits. I get that they want to get a lead but Season 1 and 2 cannot be bought in Australia, why not? This is not about Disney+ but Netflix offers several seasons most TV shows on BlueRay, as such it is neither monetizing or creating an addictive design (as I personally see it), but perhaps Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton could clearly elaborate? The story goes into (or towards) “the company also began “leveraging the mountains of data it quietly extracted from the children and families it kept fixated on their screen” – sharing this with commercial data brokers to help raise billions of dollars in revenue.” This leads to another question, “How does one keep others fixated on their screen?”, You pay one amount for monthly subscription, regardless of the time. There is a cheaper option with advertisements. But it beckons the question, how do you keep people fixated? As such the prices are:
Standard with Ads: AU$9.99/month
Standard: AU$20.99/month
So, the customer has an option to pay $11 more, how is this monetizing? And don’t forget that advertising was added to make it cheaper for some. And then the fixation on the screen? How is that done exactly?
So then we get to Politico who (at https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/11/netflix-sued-by-texas-ag-for-alleged-surveillance-addictive-features-00915029) gives us ‘Netflix sued by Texas AG for alleged surveillance, addictive features’ where we see “It adds that the company tracks and logs viewing habits, location and virtually every interaction on the platform — keyword searches, pausing or fast-forwarding and more — which it then uses to build consumer profiles that earn the company billions.” So, as I see it, a person (me) searches for a title or an actor or actress. Seems pretty common in Netflix settings. I search for Olivia Wilde and see what they have with her in it, same that I look for Dwayne Johnson and see what movies with him are on Netflix. How exactly is this odd, or non trackable? If 275,000 people seek either, there is a chance that Netflix sees what they can add to their stable. This is a movie channel. Perhaps Ken Paxton took offense to the 132 searches for Melania Trump and Netflix sees a reason why not to spend money on it? Although you can watch it on Amazon and it is rated 1.6/10 (over 68000 votes). These two articles are making me wonder what this suit is all about, because as far as I can tell this case has no merit. Perhaps Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton needs the limelight for something, is it election year in Texas? As far as I can see (optionally not a correct view) is that Paxton announced in April 2025 that he would run for the United States Senate in the 2026 election, challenging incumbent senator John Cornyn in the Republican primary and in the runoff. So is he gaining free ‘advertisement’ through Netflix? It is merely a speculation from my side, but the timeline seems to fit. As such we need to see what Ken Paxton does next and if he gives us any clarity on his claims. There is also the fact that it is the subscriber that gives the connection to a household and the subscribers to Netflix must be at least 18 years old. So how does one see what the age of the watcher is in that household? Perhaps he has a setting for profiling? Like only women and oldest daughters watch ‘Sex in the city’? Only children watch Ponyo? Your guess is as good as mine and I am here clueless. But perhaps there are journalists who will ask the hard questions. Have a great day.
An idea just struck me (Ouch). I was remembering an old game and it wasn’t through graphics. They were the words ‘shy gypsy slyly shyly tryst by my crypt’ and ‘two sticks and two stones, the rest is just icing’, they are still in my brain after 33 years. The game the 7th guest had an impact. And the puzzle with that many ‘Y’ included was impossible for me (as an original Dutchman) to solve. I wasn’t angry, I was delighted and there were a several more puzzles, but the idea formed into my mind.
What happens when you upgrade these video streams to 1080p? The graphics can be transferred to 4K almost too easily. The idea of a sequel where after a few puzzles you get the option to recap the original game completely and now there is the option to give a sepia view (for the recap) or go into the game completely in 1080p. The original preserved as it was a game changer in 1993 and now we get a new story with attachments to the original and the world has almost thousands of puzzles, so what stops the owner of that IP (originally Virgin Interactive Entertainment/Broderbund) to do this? I have no idea where the IP lies, with them or with Electronic Arts. And if the IP is no longer protected, buying the original 7th Guest might be a cheap option to get a totally new IP rolling. It could be a new gaming consortium, it could be an indie developer or another path could be open.
The original puzzles could spark part of the new sequel. I had a partial idea in the past as a game like 7th Guest could be a streaming game, as such now the Tencent handheld might be the next option. What matters is that all these ‘wannabe’ innovators and they set aside original ideas and this took me less then an hour to consider. It could be set to the summer cottage (or beach dwelling) to Henry Stauf (the original protagonist) and this mansion is also full of puzzles and solving them gives us the next stage in whatever setting we see and these puzzles form a totally new storyline (which is for the designer to figure out). That sequel would lead to even more puzzles through the stories of Brian Dutton, Hamilton Temple, Julia Heine and Martine Burden. All DLC’s that can be added and they will add a whole new range of puzzles, first through the storyline and as you complete puzzles and get past the storyline, they unlock these puzzles and alterations of that in the main screen as the separate option is revealed. There is no denying that people are partially obsessed wit puzzles and they might not like all puzzles, but there is enough to entice the biggest puzzle fan. All unlicked through game and that sets up a whole new IP for the designer. Consider the Sudoku or Nonogram. Once the puzzle is completed that part of the designer comes online and you can have thousands of puzzles in that style. All out in the open, but never combined in one game, In one challenge that boggles the puzzler in all of us.
So why didn’t the other ‘gaming greats’ consider this? It is not innovative enough? The best ideas are not in front of you, they are behind you and that setting gave me the idea I am typing now. I leave it up to the makers of actual games to make something new and enticing and the 7th Guest gave us that in the style of a game (by those times ‘hi res gaming’) we know better now and even as the graphics are surpassed the idea never was and it is out for anyone now to capture the minds of all. I still advice to own the 7th Guest to design past that but there you have it, a novel idea. Not new but novel enough to capture the minds of thousands of gamers, because when you are on a bus or a train, you can look out the window the entire 40 minutes, or solve a puzzle and get those grey cells exercised. I think the second option has a lot more appeal and consider that this could also be added to your desires of a Sony playstation portable, Tencent Handheld or a Nintendo Switch 2. It is up to you to decide but as I see it, this game could entertain all three systems.
So where are the others? Where are their innovative ideas for a new gaming world? I am merely asking. Have a great day and entertain the idea of gaming the evening away on the couch, or on the bus/tram/metro/train to work and home.
Yes, that is the news we get mere hours ago ‘Aramco and stc to deploy supercomputer in Saudi Arabia’, these puppies do not grow on trees and there aren’t many of them. It’s almost the same as a country is added to the nuclear arsenal. A supercomputer is a big deal and in this case it will increase the computing abilities for over 700%, that is a lot and Aramco is seemingly sharing that ability with the stc (Saudi Telecom Company) and it isn’t entirely unexpected as we were told that this would happen in the end of March. Where we saw “solutions by stc had signed a SAR 1.4 billion (~ US$ 372 million) agreement with Saudi Aramco to provide advanced high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure to support operations in the energy exploration and production sector.” And here we see that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is taking data exploration in the energy sector very seriously and it would enable growth of this sector could enable this US$ 372 million investment in a return of billions annually. As the expression goes it will have an interesting return on investment and I reckon that this also goes for the Saudi Telecom sector and this could assist the Kingdom in all manners from large to small. It is the benefit of having your own supercomputer and it is apparently not the first one, they already have 7, as such in the ‘rankings’ of these bad boys the Kingdom would increase to a 12th position on the global ranking list. They won’t outdo the United States who allegedly has 171 of these data devourers, but that is still a standing that will help Saudi Arabia to crunch a whole range of numbers and I reckon that it is one of the very few in the energy sector, as such they will likely have a massive advantage, because as they have had a stable partnership with IBM, they will soon have the means to crush decades of data in mere minutes. It also beckons the thought of what benefits it could bring to the stc, as data mining in the telecom groups is pretty novel. Yes, we get that telecom groups (globally) use supercomputers to see how their investment holds, but there aren’t many to have direct access to one. The top500 list doesn’t specify what or how they are used, but with Saudi Arabia soon in 12th position, they likely have a few options they dod not have before and to get the output of data crunches in no more than minutes is the beginning of a few settings that have strategic benefits and as I see it, their exploration of a muslim customer base in the surrounding African nations will reap benefits for stc as well. To get the output of ‘What can we do now’ not set in weeks, or even days but in mere hours (creating the dashboard is likely to most intense part here) is not to be overlooked. I reckon that overseeing the refinery benefits now for Aramco will be the first expected setting, because that is where a mere 4 billion per percentage increase is seen and that system (aka doohickey) will enable this with all the data it has access to in mere minutes. So, the upcoming OPEC Monthly Reports should no later then December 14th this year be showing us all a nice upgrade of the abilities of Aramco. An advantage like that will stir the emotions of places like Wall Street nicely and whilst some will trivialize what this will contain, the setting of decades of IBM data and the computer power that is added leave me with no worry of what Aramco could be achieving in 2026.
Have a great day, it Tuesday now for me now, so enjoy whatever day you are in (only New Zealand is ahead of me in time).
There is an old ‘saying’, it comes from the late 70’s and it goes a little like this:
There are three ways to lose your company: Through women, which is the prettiest method. Through gambling, which is the fastest method. Through Statistics, which is the most certain method.
In the 50 years that followed we learned that the first option might be the prettiest, but you still end up with a working company. The second one is still an issue, but the third one is still under consideration, Especially with the presumed setting of AI (or as I call is NIP or Fake AI.
This all came to me when I was bombarded with charts and there are numerous ways that we are handed these charts, but it also gave me a consideration. You see, no matter how deep you believe the data to be true, it remains a consideration that any data is flawed and through that setting not entirely trustworthy.
You see, this is the country with the most migrants, but what I am missing is where they came from. I saw another article in the BBC, which gave us ‘La dolce vita: Is Italy the new tax haven for the global rich?’ (at https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20260421-is-italy-the-new-tax-haven-for-the-global-rich)here we see “In France you also have to pay a property tax (taxe foncière or land tax). “We don’t have that here for the prima casa (first home),” says Robert, although he notes “there is a high charge for refuse collection”. The best thing as far as he is concerned is that there is no inheritance tax on property you own in Italy up to €1 million ($1.1 million) and it’s only 4% beyond that threshold. In France the tax-free limit is much lower – €100,000 ($110,000) – and beyond that it’s a sliding scale up to a top rate of 45%.” The story is about the ‘global rich’? All this might be true, but I believe that there is a larger migration into Europe. The setting that Americans are leaving, a setting we got in the Wall Street Journal on February 25th 2026, where we saw “The U.S. experienced net negative migration in 2025, with an estimated loss of 150,000 people, a trend not seen since the Great Depression.” And if you are ‘really wealthy’, you skip Italy and go straight to Monaco, which is a zero tax nation. So that first chart is nice, but where they came from is more interesting, especially in the era 2026-2028.
We then get the second chart, which shows us where the youth is scientifically. Here we get the first issue. There is consideration that these numbers are flawed n some cases. As some give us: “There are approximately 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 globally”, and I know enough of the failing of data, to give you the fact that there are no data sets giving us 1.2 billion records. As such plenty of nations have worked with mean values and that is the first failing on that chart. Second it is nice to see the USA in 17th position, but they have a population of 349 million and not all can afford to go to University, then we get foreign students in MIT, UCLA, Princeton, Harvard and Yale. So how are they counted and what is disregarded? Several questions on a chart because the data is missing (and footnotes too). So whilst these numbers might be indicative that those scoring over 500 are in a ‘safe’ place, but that is if we accept this number. And the explanation of those scores, with added footnotes on what is regarded as ‘valid’ is up for grabs.
And then we get the main event, the one that baffled me for a moment, because is gave my thoughts optional validity, but then I need to be wary of a few settings, because without data, a chart is merely a weighted result and without N (total responses) there are reliability issues.
We now see the top countries by natural resource value. It gives me my validity as the United States is show to have $45T in value and that is the setting that makes them optionally almost insolvent. Their debt is growing faster and faster and as it is now said to be $38.9 trillion, which amounts to exceeding 100% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but as we see it, they have almost spend the total of their natural resources. I have an issue with that, because the rare metals are not in that list all whilst Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona have it, as such that number is off (by a lot) and other nations have more (or less) natural numbers as the chart sets out, all whilst these numbers are not given either as such it is a nice chart, but incomplete and as such redundant. If I was to hazard a guess, this was a chart to show how ‘good’ Russia is doing, but as I never saw data on it all as such I have my issues with it. All charts look pretty cool, but cool doesn’t pay the baker (or the butcher for that matter). As such we need to wonder what the chart was doing, not what they tell you, but what they aren’t telling you.
That was just my setting on this and there is a lot more to consider so whilst the first chart gave us “The U.S. hosts 17% of the world’s migrants”, my initial question was “Based on what data?” And as people m ight give us the setting that the AI gave them the numbers and we know that AI doesn’t yet exist. We are given the thought that it is merely DML and that is done by a programmer and that programmer might miss a few beats to be optimistic (many more beat are likely to have been missed) and all this on flawed data?
So what was the designer of that chart trying to persuade you to consider what was ‘their’ issue? Because when someone makes a chart, they want you to look into a specific area, or not look in an area that also mattered. Have a great day, another Monday parked on front of my door, Vancouver still has the bulk of Sunday to get through. Ah well.
The famous and iconic quote by Dr. Leonard McCoy, first stated by Deforest Kelly, after that by Karl Urban. So, it’s space but not as we know it. We are given ‘Abu Dhabi-based space company plans massive $1 billion satellite network’ with the quote “The space technology company, linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed’s International Holding Co. (IHC), will launch its first satellite in October. Nine more are scheduled for next year as the firm builds an AI-powered Earth observation system. CEO Hamdullah Mohib confirmed plans for 40 additional satellites within five years.” Who would have thought that the 2017 movie Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets gave us a look into the actual future?
Of course I went to the cinema, I grew up with the comics of Valerian (in Dutch, where he is called Ravian) one of the comics even gave me the idea for a story with elements based on that setting, I even Included parts of the idea of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Origin, specifically the The Curse of the Pharaohs part. There were no pharaohs, or curses in my story, but the ships sailing through the weeds and the location of Aten and Duat gave me ideas. But this is about the UAE, who is launching 50 satellites. I have no idea what the competitive yank was doing when Elon Musk (yes, that guy) has launched over 11,500 starlink satellites. But the UAE, is a different matter. I have no idea what area, although some sources gave me “Middle East, Africa, and the surrounding regions”, the question becomes will it include at lest parts of Europe? You see, that would give a massive boost to the UAE streaming channels as they could reach these area’s too and that could mean all kinds of revenue (like advertising). It is me personal view to not include this would be folly. I also see the need to increase YouTubers, TikTok makers, and likeminded local crowds. I can see that the limitations is decently showing for Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah. The world needs to see what the UAE can offer as the resentment for visiting the United States is increasing on a near daily basis, especially as someone ‘claims’ that Cube is now easy pickings (they used a different term). But that warmongering claim and the sounds that we hear as Hegseth criticized NATO allies for not standing with the U.S. during tensions with Iran, questioning the strength of the alliance when allies are unwilling to support U.S. efforts is as some say “going down the wrong pipe”, as such there is a higher need for more diverse information and it might be nice to do that, but I believe that the best view on the Emirates should be given by an Emirati, should be simple, right? And there is enough sample materials. I am privy to see the works of Johny Strides, but there is also “The Ken Continuum” as I see it, plenty of stuff for Emirati’s to show Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah on a near daily basis. I just looked on the recently uploaded vlogs and what I find is ‘Inside Yas Mall Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 | Luxury Shopping & Walking Tour’ from the Canada Family Vlogs. One in one day, there were a few more in 3-6 days and plenty of shorts, but the famous Yas Mall? I would have expected at least a 6-12 in a day and I think it is important for the UAE to show itself and there is plenty of evidence that the Emirati’s love their country, as such I am a little bewildered why there is so little (perhaps there is a reason, but I am unaware of it) And Yas Island has a mall and 4 theme parks. And when. I look towards Sharjah, I get ‘Sharjah Separating From UAE? The Hidden Crisis In UAE Right Now’ I have no idea if that is real (most likely a doom speaker) but something should be done, especially when the UAE is adding 50 satellites and they all want to give and receive all kinds of data (I reckon a lot will be videos). But it is essential that the UAE will upgrade the quality of what is out and about, especially from Emiratis. I saw several good videos in the past for both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, but the pickings are getting slim. Show the people what shopping in Carrefour is like, show Affordables in Khalidiyah mall and Al Wadha mall (a mere example), foodcourts in Dubai, most people in the Commonwealth have never seen Al Baik and that is just the surface of things. Yes, people show us the Dubai Mall (which is lovely) and show us the Bugatti hotel, but there is more. And there are good vloggers, Dubai has Alone in Dubai, which shows us all the splendour of Dubai, I have seen numerous videos from that provider on YouTube. But there should be more, because not everyone likes one particular person, we all have different tastes. I get that, and by showing us more, we learn more and we accept that Dubai and Abu Dhabi needs to be on everyones bucket list especially now that the people tire of the United States. I reckon that with 50 satellites, there will be a lot more interactions and as these 50 satellites come online between now and 2031, it becomes essential to do this, especially as the telecom companies want to grow and there is room for growth especially towards Europe as I see it, so as the UAE shows its technological prowess, it needs to consider what is there to show and at times I think it might be better and these could be more. The UAE set out in 2024, to ‘Chris Hemsworth criticised over tourism ad promoting Abu Dhabi despite ‘notorious’ human rights violations’, which I personally consider BS. What Human Rights violations? The Guardian showed “The international non-governmental advocacy organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said the UAE “invests in a strategy to paint the country as progressive, tolerant, and rights-respecting while carrying out repression against dissent”.” With a massive page where it mentions Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia and we get “The ACTU had said the UAE would be “one of the most repressive countries any Australian government has ever done a bilateral trade agreement with”.” So, where is the evidence? Because all I have seen on YouTube (mostly by British people) is a place that is a lot prettier then Florida ever was, I have not seen any repression and the BS I saw on the dangers in Google Search are as I see it massive lies too. The UAE is seen (by a lot of people as one of the safest places on the planet), plenty of women claimed that they felt safe in Dubai (on their YouTube videos), as such to counter this BS from wannabe human rights phonies it is time now to open the valve, because all this takes time to create traction and the UAE has 5 years to give us a whole range of videos of life in the UAE. I reckon that this is an essential call towards the people in the Emirates and I do believe that you need to see the local settings and as such the UAE has its challenge cut out for them, and I believe that they can meet them, because I see on Twitter (on a daily basis) the proclamation of Emiratis and the love they have for their rulers and their country. I saw a few videos regarding National day and it was clear that these people love their country, I think it is time that this is brought to the larger audience. I saw them as I watched a lot of walkthroughs on the first covid lockdowns. I was in me apartment, nothing to do, as such I watched what was available. London, Toronto, Dubai, Stockholm, Rotterdam and a few other places. As such I also saw the National day parades, cultural performances and I believe it was the first time that I saw the global village in Dubai. The UAE has so much to show, as such I believe it is needed to show it so that these people proclaiming repression, either show us evidence, or shut up. But that might be my oversimplified setting on the matter. But what is now known is that the UAE (with French help) will put 50 satellites in orbit in the next 5 years, as such it is time to see what there is and how it could aid others in seeking optional fortune and challenges. As I see it, the UAE is now where the United States was in 1952, a land of opportunity and as such the larger players and the smaller innovators have a new destination and you might think that the story I started with is merely talk, but consider that the UAE has Dubai+, Dubai One, and Dubai Sports, Shahid, STARZPLAY, OSN+, Abu Dhabi Media Network (ADmn) brands, Abu Dhabi TV, Emarat TV, and Abu Dhabi Sports. So what do you think will happen in 2031? When they grow outside of their UAE borders, they will need materials and that is your opportunity. That is the grow setting that is now getting lost in the United States. Some will go towards Canada, but the Middle East is where it will take on serious grow settings. I reckon that the European script writers are already looking in this direction, because they have materials that might fit in the Emirati media circles. So it will be life for all, but not as we have known it, it will be new and as such it will be interesting to see and it will be enticing. So have a great day today and consider where your future lies and as I read it (might be a typo) ADNOC has 555,845 open jobs. So anyone seeking a job? Have a great day.
Lawrence van Rijn - Law Lord to be 