Thermal imaging requires specialised organs. The difference between optical and thermal wavelengths is too extreme for a single organ to cover. Long wavelength IR is also quite low resolution for visual purposes.

Snakes have evolved the capability, but it’s not common.

It’s also worth noting that LoRa devices like the T-Deck exist. You can pick them up off of AliExpress.

LoRa is a long range, low data rate messing protocol. It’s intended for IoT devices, but can also be used for Text messaging. Its range can get up to 20+ miles, under perfect conditions, but 1 mile+ is mostly viable. It can also form mesh networks, allowing message relaying. While it can be jammed, such jamming would cause a lot of problems with other devices. It’s also designed to be noise tolerant, making jamming harder. Finally, the devicenis esp32 based. It’s simple enough that a single person could write the code to make it work, or audit the open source options.

Basically, it’s long range messaging, independent of external support like cell towers. It also supports encryption, if required. It’s not perfect, but would be an excellent protest coordination tool.

An example (cheaper options available too) https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007568074083.html

It’s also worth noting that it wasn’t the hydrogen that caused the fire. The Hindenburg had an aluminium skin. It began having degradation issues, so they painted it. The paint was iron oxide based. Aluminium and iron oxide are the 2 main ingredients in thermite.

Analysis of the video shows that it was the skin burning off. It would have gone up almost as badly, even if filled with helium.

Automatics had a bit of a bad reputation, for quite a while. They don’t/didn’t play well with our road layouts. E.g. they could be slow to downshift when climbing a hill, and kick when they did decide to play along. I believe they have improved a lot, but most people are used to manuals, and so more manuals are sold. This makes automatics more expensive and rarer.