Politics 13 - Je Accuse

It seems that today is about ‘Free Speech’.  Therefore, I wish to take the opportunity to say something controversial but, in my opinion, very true.

Fundamental Islamic extremism is the result of the Israel/Palestine hostility.

It is as simple as that.

Religion 5 - A Question of Hypocricy

I have just written a comment in a well-known magazine and, for the first time, cannot resist posting that same comment here.

Two, seemingly well-organized, French terrorists are on the run (At the time of writing).  But, usually, every criminal makes a mistake, and it is likely that these two will also have made a mistake (Assuming that the police have identified them correctly).

Enough (almost) has been written about the fanatical belief of most Muslims to adhere to the assumed words of their Prophet.  Therefore, it seems quite obvious to me that many (more than we imagine) know the two men concerned, but will sympathize with their terrible actions, and will not reveal their whereabouts.

Yet, every time there is a murderous terrorist incident, most Muslims around the globe, from the Imams to the small man and woman in the street can be heard to say, "We do not condone these terrorist actions".  Yet, I repeat, many know the two men involved.  Therefore, are they actually saying, "We do not condone these specific terrorist actions ... but infidels must be eliminated somehow".

It will be interesting to discover, when (if) these men are caught, if it will be the result of information from the tight-knit Muslim community.  Otherwise, the word hypocrite must be applied ... in the form of satire, perhaps.

Politics 12 - Vladimir Putin, A Question

Ukraine, An Answer

If I could ask Vladimir Putin a question, it would be, why is it important to invade Ukraine, when Russia has so much more land in the East to develop.  Of course, you know that’s a rhetorical question (He is terrible at returning my calls).

While Crimea has been annexed by Russia with, apparently, little opposition by the Crimean people, most of the world still considers it part of Ukraine.  But the country, as a whole, has little wish to rejoin Russia and become part of Putin’s obvious desire to reconstruct the union of socialist republics, in a way that Napoleon Buonaparte would admire.  Nevertheless, we must be cautious about his egotistical czarist ambitions.

It is worth mentioning here that Ukraine is made up of 78% ethnic Ukrainians, and 17% of ethnic Russian immigrants.  According to the Constitution the Ukrainian language is the official language, although the Russian language is spoken by most people, due, in my opinion, to the past dominance of the USSR.  In February 2014, the Ukrainian Parliament voted to repeal the law on regional languages, making Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels; however, this was vetoed (for the moment) by the acting President in March.

In my view, the weak standoff between the government in Kiev and a few Eastern provinces has only one answer, with many parts, the main two are:  1.  Repeal the language law, after all, it was fine for Nikita Khrushchev (Russian President) to speak Ukrainian for most of his life.  2.  Remove dual citizenship.  Those who choose not to be Ukrainian shall be given short-term (but renewal) resident visas and, if possible, encouraged to return to their country of origin (This should include those born in [the] Ukraine who refuse to take Ukraine citizenship).  The country will not develop, in my opinion, as a harmonious entity while there is a destructive ‘underground’ ethnic opposition.

By the way, I have studied the complicated history, and you may too.

I am sure (and hope) that this subject is controversial, and welcome your views.

Click 'Comments'

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?