www.owohrod.com.

So, how can we really know the extent of the tragedy which is afflicting the people of Aleppo, when there is such a high risk of the opposing parties feeding us with misinformation, lies, half truths and constructed truths? We know and we can understand that civilians are being killed and maimed, be they children, women, or old or young men. We are shown isolated young children being clawed out of collapsed building, and we see empty streets or streets with a few  young men moving about, but there seems to be an absence - mercifully - of the widespread slaughter we have seen when the opposition forces, especially Daesh, placed and set off their bombs in government controlled areas; sometimes areas which the rebels have been evacuated from, or areas where the rebels have not previously targeted, such as Latakia. And, why is it that we never or rarely see rebel casualties in these areas where the government forces and the Russians are accused of committing "ba

This is another video of a lovely Sunset. Take a look and be enchanted; if you find it to be so.

Shimon Peres, the former Prime Minister of Israel, has recently died. He was 93 years old, so his death should not have been unexpected, all things being equal.  The late Mr Peres, like Mr Rabin, before him, who had the misfortune of being assassinated by a crazed Israeli, has robbed the people of Israel and Palestine, of someone who had wanted to and was able to make a positive difference to the Israel/Palestine conflict. A tradegy which is, unlike the death of both men, continuing to torment not only Israelis and Palestinians, but the whole world.  Sadly, while each of us only has only one life time to live, the conflict between these two nations seem to have too many damn life-times; resulting in it defeating and/or outliving, so far, all or most of those who have earnestly been attempting to resolve it. And so it is, that, while all the statesmen and stateswomen and leaders from all around the world, genuinely and otherwise mourn the loss of the comparatively great man

As we watch the United States Government punishing Deutsche bank with crippling financial fines, it is a timely occasion to consider the 'justice' and rationale for governments to impose such fines on private and public companies. I question the justice of these fines, on the basis that it is the share holders, employees, and customers of these companies and bodies who have to pay the fines.  And how do they pay these massive fines? Yes, by depleting their reserves, and/or increasing the cost of their products, thereby reducing their competitiveness, and, in the worst of cases, going to the wall. Resulting in jobs being lost or not being created, livelihoods being lost and dependant workers becoming unemployed and increased poverty in the the general community. And what do these governments, such as the United States, do with the money they, effectively, extorted from these multi-national companies? Do they use it to create jobs or to alleviate the hardship which

As we approach the Qualifying for and the Malaysian Grand Prix, on Sunday, many of us will be contemplating the outcomes of both events. Namely, can Lewis Hamilton control his demons and take Pole position in the Qualifying, and, if he does so, is he going to demonstrate the consistency which is needed for him to convert it into P1 position on Sunday? Others will be contemplating whether Rosberg will be able to build on his, sofar, remarkable consistency of command over the past 3 consecutive grand prix and add a fourth win on Sunday. It is quite clear that both drivers has the capability to attain Pole position on Saturday, and convert it into a win on Sunday. However, over the past few races, it is only Nico Rosberg who has been demonstrating the level of driving mastery required to convert the one into the other, and even converting, in one race, a P2 Qualifying into a race win. And so it is, that it is Lewis Hamilton who is going into this weekend's Qualifying and

As the man said, or might have said, we are all humans, we all bleed if we are cut with an implement, we all suffer pain, be it physical or mental, although we might develop culturally differentiated tolerance levels to it. We all aspire towards attaining or maintaining good health, and living happily. It is in this sense that we, humans, can meaningfully declare our 'equality', whether we attribute it to the effect of 'creation' or evolution. This is quite different from what we might consider to be 'aspirational equality'; that which leads us to argue that all humans should strive for and be enabled to acquire certain minimum conditions in their living, such as a job which pays a 'living wage', a home which is fit for human habitation, clean water to drink and use, adequate food, heating, if required, freedom to express their individuality, freedom from wars and conflicts, freedom from undue interference in their private lives from both go

In the first part of this post, I have argued that, probably the only time when humans are 'equal', is for that brief moment when they are born and are presented to the external world in their nakedness. I could also have added that, probably the only other time when they might be considered 'equal', is at the point of their deaths. You will recall that this post is an attempt to answer the question, 'are all humans really created equal', and that I have used the presumption of the American Constitution, in its reference to 'all men being created equal.....' to underscore my argument. I have challenged the stipulation about 'all men being created', on the basis that humans, or rather, the first humans, were not created by god, but had in fact evolved from lower order - in terms of the intellectual ability to communicate meaningfully within and outside of one's specie - to higher order specie, such a primates.  Evolution is

This video is a rather unique one, as it shows the appearance of the belly of a squirrel when it is nursing young ones, as far as I can tell. Now, it is possible that this one could be just in the advanced stage of pregnancy, but considering the time of year, I suspect that it is nursing a litter. Take a look and come to your own opinion. And be contemplated, delighted or amazed, or whatever emotion it evokes in you.

Continuing from the first part of this post. And here lies the crux of the matter; as long as the struggle against police brutality and oppression of the people by local authorities using it as a income generating system, is characterised solely as a 'black American versus the police and criminal justice system' issue, black Americans will continue to be killed and financially and otherwise exploited. This is because it will be seen as something which is only restricted or applies to 'them'; black Americans. It will be seen as their problem and the inference will be for them to get on with dealing with it, although the cards will be stacked against them, as the police has the central and local governments systems on their side. It is this distancing of 'us' from what is happening to 'them', which is an important part of the problem and the solution. Like mental disorder, which can involve dissociation, delusions, psychosis, some whi

Serena Williams has declared her concern for her nephew's safety, and that of other Black American young men, following the most recent killing of an innocent black young man in the United States. According to reports of the latest killing - and, by now, this one might no longer be the latest one - the sister of the man who was killed, called the police, seeking their assistance with her brother, who is reported to have been suffering from a mental disorder. The result was that the police came, but, as they had done in at least one previous and similar case, where they shot and killed the mentally ill man, they also gunned down the woman's brother. On the reported pretext that he took something out of his pocket and pointed it at the police. Well, we know how the police deal with people suffering from mental disorder; they have a tendency to kill them, not always as deliberately as appears to have been the case in San Diego killing, but sometimes as a result of thei