2015 - New Year's Resolution

I shall be very brief;  my infrequent resolution for this year is a piece of extraordinary advice ... perhaps, a warning to some.

I spent most of last year overseas, enjoying myself and giving very little thought to events at home.

Having travelled throughout my life, last year was different.  I mean that I was not setting up a home, or just visiting somewhere for a short restful vacation.  I was travelling back and forth, as a volunteer teacher at universities that had uncertain periods of employment ... and doubtful promise of financial gain.

Thus, it seemed at the time, that plastic cards with titles such as Visa and MasterCard would ensure that any need for financial wellbeing was satisfied.  Normally, this was a practicable policy;  When living abroad, there was always my overseas bank to draw from, and on short vacations, one would return home to settle credit accounts.  But it was very different last year.

I started the year with the usual wallet full of US dollars, but these soon dwindled.  Nevertheless, why worry, because there were those comforting credit cards.

Therefore, still trying here to be brief, I became totally ignorant of sensible banking practices.  Remember, these were places of affective midday sun.

Yes, you've guessed it, I spent most of the year, obtaining cash from ATM's with my credit cards, without any care about the minimum payment requirements ... or the resultant compounding interest.

Thus, upon my final return, and seeing the catastrophic bank statements, I have just one important piece of advice:  Even though using a credit card to pay for a short hotel stay or a nice meal, never use a credit card to obtain cash ... unless the monthly statement is paid in full.

Please allow me to repeat;  NEVER USE A CREDIT CARD AT AN ATM.

Happy New Year.

Aerospace 7 - Lockheed F-35 Fighter

I have decided to add my voice to the ever-increasing volume of public noise surrounding Canada’s continuing consideration to replace its excellent CF-18 fighter jets with the Lockheed F-35 aircraft. 

Although, obviously, a political decision, I have placed this post under an ‘Aerospace’ title because it is, or should be, of interest to all purchasers of the aircraft.

Rather than write an extended prose on the subject, I have decided to use a simple itemized format, with some text from Flight Global magazine, hoping that it will even better highlight my points of view ... and enable your discussion to take place.  I had also discussed this subject before (13 October, 2011) which only increases my amazement of the lack of action.

1.  Suddenly, a new Canadian government report suggests that other fighter jets are just as capable as the Lockheed Martin F-35A at fulfilling the nation’s most likely mission needs, potentially opening the door to a competitive acquisition process to replace a fleet of 77 Boeing CF-18s.

2.  But, Canada still intends to buy 65 F-35s beginning in 2020.  Its third annual report on the cost of potentially replacing its fleet of CF-18s with the jet, assumes an average per-unit cost of $ 88.9 million over the period of acquisition.  That tallies up to a total $ 45.8 billion over the life cycle of the fleet, a $ 141 million increase over the estimate in the 2013 report, not to mention reports before that.

3.   I've just read a report elsewhere describing a USAF purchase, that the cost does NOT include the engines, which are part of a separate deal with Pratt & Whitney!

4.  An analysis assumes that Canada will lose eleven F-35As over the fleet’s expected 30-year service life due to normal attrition.  "The cost to replace these lost aircraft could be about $ 1 billion," the report says.

5.  At present, the Canadian government has only $ 76 million set aside for programme contingencies, far short of the $ 1 billion estimate for replacement aircraft.  The report says that the contingency budget is “low for a project of this scope and size”.

6.  That could force Canada to lower the number of F-35s it buys, the report suggests.  That could affect the overall programme cost.  Lockheed has promised to bring the per-aircraft cost for the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the jet below $ 100 million by 2019, but that will require a dramatic ramp-up in production after 2016 that relies heavily on non-US purchases.

7.  Officials have also said (for example) that the essential Electrical Optical Targeting System, which is used to track a target, continues to fail.  Just another example of a project plagued with problems.

8.  The F-35 first flew nine (9) years ago, after many years of flight development with the X-35 research aircraft!  Did I say development?

9.  Each aircraft costs $ 90 million ± $ 20 million, and we could upgrade our CF-18's (all of them) to last until 2025 for $ 100 million!  By which time we'll be flying drones.

10.  If you have a wish for more information, go to Wikipedia, use keywords, 'Lockheed F-35'.  Don't read the article (You just don't have time) scroll down to References, there are nearly 600 references.  A historic number for Wikipedia, I believe.

Words, such as;  immoral, discreditable, and outrageous behaviour, come to mind, you could probably add a few more ... couldn’t you?

Photos in Kunming, Yunnan, China

Returning to Canada from Thailand, it was necessary to transit through China, Kunming in Yunnan Province specifically, to meet old friends ... not especially to be a tourist, but I usually carry a camera, and here are the results.

Firstly, meet very good friends for dinner.

Then, tour the reconstructed old city (Yes, that's Starbucks).

Retaining parts of the ancient architecture will look fantastic as they become restaurants and guesthouses upon completion.

But don't let the police catch you.

Or the Peoples Liberation Army ... as they guard their recruitment post (Really).  I apologize for the tilt as I tried to hide the camera.

While we reflect upon things.

Before returning to look out of our hotel window at 'Cuihu' Green Lake' in the centre.  Note, my favourite restaurant, the 'Bluebird', in the bottom right corner.

Next day, a trip to the countryside. 

Where we stumble upon a rarely-visited new construction.  It is being privately-built by a rich publisher leading to his new library of ancient newspapers (See previous photo).  Note, the construction of a new Kunming city in the background.

We return to the park to enjoy the dances of a rural ethnic group.

In another part of the same park, the local people are doing their daily exercise.

And, on the same day, a semi-professional troupe give another display (These groups can be seen almost every day).

There are always amusing notices to photograph,

... and choirs to sing with.

And things to reflect upon.

And time to pose. 

And time to be a weird foreigner.

And time to say 'Goodbye'.

Click each photo to enlarge

Education 10 - A Ticking Time Bomb

I return to Canada as temperatures drop to those of a winter season, the sun shines brightly on a carpet of golden maple leaves, and university students are well-settled into their chosen curricula ... chosen, but I wonder how well chosen.  I notice that certain media is, again, drawing attention to the question of jobless graduates with an emphasis on the responsibilities of government.  But, I should like to balance the argument by shifting it towards the academic faculties and students themselves.

Firstly, an example;  I read of someone stopping an undergraduate and posing this basic question, “What will you do after you graduate?”  The answer, not too surprisingly, was, “I don’t know.”  It is probable that media political pundits, together with college faculty, would blame government because, of course, government seems to be responsible for everything.  Now, let us focus elsewhere.

There was a time when a university degree assured you of a good job, good pay and a comfortable life.  But, today, the unemployment rate for young people in this country is almost 15% – double that of the general population.  But the real crisis is the increasing number of university and college grads who are underemployed.  Some call them "the lost generation".  But, it is not only young people who may be lost.  If the next generation fails to become part of the economy, who will buy the real estate?  Who will pay for social programs?  Youth unemployment and underemployment is a ticking time bomb with serious outcomes for everyone.

So, why are so many young Canadians overeducated and underemployed.  Because the key players in Canada – universities, employers and governments – are not working together to find a solution.  There must be a national body responsible for education when it comes to helping young people make a smooth entry into the workforce.  All levels of government, educators and employers, must work together to ensure that education and training are linked to employment.

It is my belief, based on experience, that the problem is twofold;  Firstly, students are entering university quite unprepared and, secondly, universities, in some ways, have not brought the curricula into the twenty-first century.

Being unable to answer the question, “What will you do after graduation?”  must be looked at seriously by career councillors in high schools.  The student should be informed that there may be a position at a Space Agency for someone with a MSc., but an astronaut will require, probably, two PhD’s. (Even an airline pilot requires good postgraduate degrees).  It may, also, be difficult for someone to become a software programer if, soon, software will be written by robots using artificial intelligence.  Medical doctors are already able to conduct surgery in distant rural communities by remote control.  The possibilities are great, but who is explaining this to the prospective student.

Assuming that the student has been counselled wisely, what about the university curricula?  Has it been brought into the twenty-first century.  I do not imply that reference books have not changed since Albert Einstein, but one could argue that a young Master Einstein could experience the same job prospects, today, as many others.  It is quite true that many businesses, today, complain that graduates are not properly prepared for employment and, that, is the fault of unqualified and unprepared teachers and lecturers.

Please tell us what you think.

Travel 12 - Chiang Mai - 2014

This year, I accepted a position to teach as a volunteer at the North Chiang Mai University in Thailand.  The schedule was open-ended, and I chose to start in July.  Although this was during the semester break, I was assured that there would be many students still present who would value interacting with a foreign language teacher.

North Chiang Mai University Entrance

This was not quite true as most of the students that remained were there for personal reasons and learning a foreign language was not one of them.  In fact, when the new semester commenced, there were few students able to speak English, and even those majoring in the subject were few and far between.  It was also notable that an unusually-large number of the faculty were not bilingual.

One of Many

My overall, and general, opinion was a culture of laid-back students, and an easy-going population as a whole.  I came to the conclusion that history had something to do with it, and there was a distinct difference when compared with other Asian countries.  The subject for a useful thesis, no doubt.  Nevertheless, a very friendly and peaceful community.

Old City Moat

The result, for me, was the unnecessary 2 kilometre, rough gravel, trudge from/to my small apartment, and the opportunity to take time off to visit the interesting city of Chiang Mai.

Director of International Affairs and his wife, with Me

The notable feature of Chiang Mai is the ancient walled old city surrounded by a moat filled with water.  The Buddhist religion (or philosophy) is obvious everywhere because of the numerous golden temples (new and old) and the many monks in their saffron-coloured robes.  One odd sight was the number of 7-11 convenience stores that, at times, seemed to equal the number of temples.  I visited the Buddhist University at Wat Chiang Man which, interestingly, did not confine itself to theological subjects but excelled in modern subjects such as Computer Engineering (Fees not required for monks).  The advent of the digital camera with a 1,000-picture memory was essential, and I felt quite sorry for those visitors with 35mm film cameras.

Monks at Prayer

Entrance to Wat Chiang Man

There are many good hotels and guesthouses within the walls of the city which I recommend, and prices start at approximately $15 per night, rising to $100 per night for sheer luxury (I would suggest booking for the first night and, then, looking around for the best value ... as if $15 isn’t good enough).

One of Many Processions for One of Many Holidays

It was certainly an unforgettable experience.

Click each photo to enlarge.