Business

Visitors Pay Good Money To Get The “Cold Treatment” In Iqaliut, Nunavut Territory, Canada

News Analysis: City Fathers of Iqaliut  have taken Pro-Active steps towards the World Aerospace Community to display their City (of 6,700+/- population) as being well situated for Cold Weather Testing of Aircraft. The immediate relatively flat terrain along the 2.7 km (1.67 mi) runway, an American Air Force Creation of 1942,  adds to the values Airframes consider for such testing. Additionally, ‘Creature Comforts” are well-developed in the City.

To Iqaliut’s credit it got its finances situated so it could present its assets around the globe.

These Creative Canadians are an Asset to their Wonderful Country.

The World Belongs To The Aggressive.

Reality.

Reference: http://arcticjournal.com/business/now-taking-arctic-aerospace-indusry

In African Tea Farming, Some Countries Have It Dry While Their Neighbors Have It Wet

News Analysis:  Mother Nature may appear to be “Fickle” as to where Rain will occur to benefit Tea Farmers and where She will withhold her Moisture. Presently, Kenya and Uganda are having dry weather while neighbors Malawi and Tanzania are enjoying wet weather.

The lessening of crop yields also affects the quality of the Tea. Presently, $1.90 per kilogram is the Auction Price whereas before it was $2.40 per kilogram.

The Good News for Kenyan and Ugandan Tea Farmers is: “Nothing is Constant but Change”. ‘If it is Dry Today, Tomorrow it may be Wet’ is the Farmer’s Mantra.

The Current trend in the Pacific Ocean today Appears to Be the “El Nino” Phenomena of warmer waters moving towards South America from Asia. If this continues, it will affect Global Weather. If so, perhaps the Tea Farmers of East Africa will all enjoy Mother Nature’s Moisture.

Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/ldn92tb

They Tell Them What They Want Them To Hear (Not What They Need To Know)

News Analysis: The Myopic Marketing Machinations regarding the use of Composite Materials for Aircraft Construction as touted by Airframes and their Mass Media Minions discuss weight reduction compared to Metal Aircraft. While there will be some weight savings between the materials, as well as some design allowances which are more difficult to achieve with Metals, there are some Key Drawbacks which are typically not discussed.

There are Three Main Problems with Composite Civil or Commercial Aircraft: De-lamination, Detonation, and Flammability.

De-lamination: Stress applied to Composite materials can, over time, make the Carbon/Carbon Textile Fabric  de-laminate from other conjoining Fabric. De-lamination makes the sturdiness of the Composites ‘disappear’ to the point of being as strong as a piece of soft fabric. As used in the structure of a fuselage or Wing Box, this could be Catastrophic in flight. It no longer has the strength of the fabricated “Vacuum Bagged and Autoclaved ” original structure.

Secondly, Long Term Exposure to Cosmic and Solar Radiation of a Composite Aircraft in High Altitude Flight will eventually weaken the adhesive thereby allowing Fabric De-lamination to occur.

Thirdly, allegedly, the U.S. B-2 Stealth Composite Bomber has had issues over its ‘brief’ life. The U.S. Air Force is presently seeking funding for a replacement of this Vaunted Aircraft. It is too expensive to maintain and has a shorter life expectancy than Metal Aircraft (is what has been reported in the media). The Leading Edges of the Wings need to be constantly examined for Surface Deterioration from  flying in the skies with particulates in the air.

The American led  Gulf War with Silica Sand particles in the air damaged the B-2’s in their flights from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, U.S.A., to Iraq and back. U.S. Air Force Line Maintenance Personnel were quite chagrined by this reality it has been widely reported. What can Airlines expect of this Composite Behavior in flight  that would be different from the U.S. Air Force experiences? The Commercial Airlines will not fly in the Middle East? Hardly.

Detonation: Composite Aircraft cannot land on Airport Runways if they have Landing Gear Failure for example, without detonating the Composites into many Shards (as in an Explosion). Like an Egg Shell that destructs when smashed against something, so too will the underside of a Composite Aircraft have those portions of itself thrown all over a runway. A Metal Aircraft “dents”; a Composite Aircraft “explodes”, in effect.

Flammability: Carbon/Carbon Fabric and Petrochemical Adhesives used to ‘Glue an aircraft together’ are Flammable. The recent Small Battery Episodes causing fire to the Composite Airliners, for which they were grounded for months is a good example of this FACTUAL INHERENT MATERIALS’ LIABILITY. A Small Battery caused extensive aft fuselage damage to an Ethiopian Airlines Aircraft at Heathrow Airport in England. It reportedly took TWO MONTHS for the Airframe to ‘Secretly Repair” the damage. In fact, allegedly NO data as to the Repair Process has been disseminated to the Public nor to other Airlines. Why is that? What does the Airframe NOT WANT potential Customers to know? people ask.

If an Engine Detonation were to occur in flight and hot pieces of the engine (much hotter than a little battery) were to strike the Wing or Fuselage, a fire would be possible. A defective Microwave Oven used in the Galley could overheat, creating a possible fire in the fuselage.

What if the Auxiliary Power Unit were to catch fire and one was flying in such a Composite Aircraft over the Pacific Ocean, far from any airport, at night with a storm occurring below?

Flying into a storm may be hazardous in such a scenario and the greater atmospheric pressure of lower altitude might expand the fire due to more oxygen being present; a possible scenario

METALS IN AIRCRAFT ARE NOT FUEL SOURCES FOR FIRE, Carbon/Carbon Fabrics and the Petrochemical Adhesives ARE; This is not Clever Marketing But Real-World Science.

The Specious Argument of “Weight Savings for Fuel Savings” has a nice sound to it, but ignores the Composite Aircraft Realities of De-lamination, Detonation, And Flammability.

One must ask: “Is Aircraft Safety More Important to Society than Some Fuel Savings to An Airline?”  The answer from Men of Good Conscience is “Safety Wins”; For those who choose Fuel Savings, let them enjoy their potential “Fires in the Sky”.

To those who only write about Composite Aircraft Weight Savings, one must ask: “What about Composites’ Liabilities?”

We tell it as We see it; We are beholden to No One.

Reality is the truth.

Reference: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25833264

Should Legitimate Insurance Claims Not Honored Be Called “Scams”?

News Analysis: A Major World Insurance Company is allegedly having its fine reputation tainted by Irate Clients who say they are NOT collecting Funds from their Legitimate Claims of one of its Units. It appears that an impending Marketing Nightmare is unfolding due the Unit refusing to pay Claims by Insureds.

Many people around the world, who follow International Insurance Matters, think that only the Foolhardy would deny Claim Satisfaction of Clients.

Good Management of any Business (Insurance or otherwise) is Pro-Active Management; anything less is effete.

Great Reputations are difficult to Build, but very easy to Destroy.

Reality.

Reference: http://kashmirobserver.net/news/business/protest-against-insurance-company-dodging-clients

European Tax Evaders Punished Vary As Much As Countries’ Tax Rates

News Analysis: Italy has a lesser percentage of Tax Evaders in Prison than most other European Countries according to the latest statistics. This country “… has six times fewer white-collar criminals than Holland, ten times fewer than Sweden, the UK or Norway, eleven times fewer than Finland, fifteen times fewer than Spain and twenty-two times fewer than Turkey.”

If one considers the Financial Debacle occurring in Greece many wonder if it has ANY imprisoned Tax Evaders?

Many Penologists think that there has to be an Ideology of Rapid Apprehension and Swift Incarceration (for Tax Evaders to choose other activities to pursue). The Pain has to Exceed the possible Financial Gain of Tax Evasion for proper behavior modification.

Until Countries collectively assess Economic Crimes for what they are and promulgate Rules and Punishments for Offenders they can expect Deviant Financial Behavior to occur by some of their Citizens.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.corriere.it/english/14_gennaio_27/italian-tax-dodgers-also-dodge-prison-ab672398-8756-11e3-b7c5-5c15c6838f80.shtml

☆ ‘Fools’ Who Choose To Cruise, November Through April, Can Be “Rewarded” With Norovirus

News Analysis: The U.S. Center For Disease Control states  that 80% of Norovirus Voyage Cases occur on Cruises from November through April. This temporary Debilitating Disorder evidences itself by causing Cramps, Diarrhea. Muscle Aches, Nausea, and possible Vertigo in Passengers. It is spread by Infected Crew and/or Passengers on everything they touch. Some Physicians are of the opinion that Coughing and the breaths of the ill may also spread the virus.

There is a very interesting aspect of being in Close Proximity to Others on Voyages, and contracting this disorder, during the SAME November through April Time Frame. People Flying in Aircraft FOR HOURS and SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO OTHERS, typically DO NOT have reports of Mass Illnesses like Cruise Ship Voyages;  which have now become Common Events!

“Semi-Belligerent” Passengers on Aircraft (as stated in Newspaper Reports)  are ready to report their Slightest of Grievances readily to Airlines and Governments about their flights; so one would expect Illness Reports during November through April to be prodigious if these were the cases (which it is not). Instead, “Happy Cruise Passengers” become less so with the onset of Cramps and Diarrhea they experience while at sea.

If one thinks about it, National Bus Riders and Railway Passengers should also be afflicted with Norovirus; it appears they are not.

Perhaps something else is at work causing this Obvious Factual Disparity.  It may be that the various Cruise Lines  are doing a dismal job of  their Crews’ Health Screenings to save  money in a very competitive Industry, as some people think.

Travel Planners need to put their “Thinking Caps On” as to the Healthiest Way to take a Vacation. Obviously Cruise Ships, from November through April, are not it.

An Ounce of ‘Selection’ is worth a Pound of Cure.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.ibtimes.com/what-norovirus-faq-about-common-cruise-ship-illness-1549066

106 Swiss Banks Have Decided Not To Be “Banksters” (Who Assist American Tax Evaders)

News Analysis: The U.S. Government has been engaging in ‘Unraveling’ the Swiss Bank/Client Cover-Ups of Undeclared Incomes of American Citizens. One might think that the U.S. National Security Agency revelations about monitoring ALL Electronic Communications in the World would give the Tax Evaders reason to ‘Come Clean”; perhaps their arrogance gets the better of them.

The reporting of Swiss Bank Employees taking Clients’ Bank Account Information from their Employers and turning them over to Countries’ Tax Authorities would impact on the psyches of the Tax Evaders, also.

Now, approaches the time to “Pay The Piper” by Swiss Banks who will be punished by U.S. Tax Authorities for the Willful Deceit they benefited from, for decades, in many cases.

Wanting to be “Bankers” rather than “Banksters”, these Administrators of Money Entrepots will have to “Cease and Desist” their Collusion and Identify the naïve Tax Evaders.

The Ill-Gotten Gains of the Banksters will hopefully not equal the Punishment Costs and Loss of Good Reputations they will receive by these American Penal Actions.

“‘Anything For A Buck’ (AFAB) is just not worth it” Wise Men would say; but some Banksters may disagree (until after they are caught and punished).

Reality.

Reference: http://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/1414556/over-100-swiss-banks-seek-amnesty-helping-americans-evade

Australia’s Military Buys American “Pigs In A Poke” For Up To $16.4 Billion Dollars; What A Bargain?

News Analysis: Australia’s Military is spending Up To $16.4 Billion Dollars for Two Aircraft Systems: Fighter and Anti-Submarine. The United States Pentagon Head of these Programs admits to Serious Flaws in both Systems. The flaws have been known, but Unsolved for Several Years.

The Fighter Aircraft has numerous Software Problems. Beyond that it is allegedly  less reliable, more difficult to maintain, and is subject to propellant fires from missile hits.

The Anti-Submarine Aircraft, merely a ‘converted’ Commercial 737, is reportedly ineffective for surveillance of the oceans, and detecting and destroying enemy submarines. This reportedly  is due to flaws in the aircraft’s radar ability, sensor integration, and data transfer.

The fact that these problems have not been solved this late in the Development Cycle is Ominous. To say that the problems are “Manageable” is Laughable. Is that “Manageable” but ‘Unsolvable”?

It is presumed by many, Australia will continue on with this Questionable Set of Purchases. Rather than demanding that IT GET WHAT IT INITIALLY BARGAINED FOR, it will acquire much less quality so as to NOT OFFEND its ‘American Military-Industrial Partners’. Apparently, to Possibly Risk the Lives of Australian Military Members, by having accepted “Less Than The Best” will be acceptable, however.

Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/mc2w9la

China Led The World In Gold Consumption In 2013

News Analysis: Purchases of Gold by Chinese in 2013 amounted to a total of 366 Tons. The Country mined 437.3 Tons last year. Since Chinese like gold for long-term economic purposes, 24 karat is preferred by citizens there.

In Gold Coinage, Turkey was the only country who minted more than Beijing last year.

Investors who want Historically Valuable Assets should consider Gold for their Inventory. The easily printed ‘Paper with Ink on It” (which is of questionable long term worth) called ‘National Currency’ largely has a major flaw in it; there are few ‘Real Assets’ to back it up. 

Reality.

Reference: http://rt.com/business/china-biggest-gold-consumer-153/

$5.3 Trillion Dollars A Day Foreign Exchange Market Get Governments’ Examination for Fraud

News Analysis: The Switzerland-based Financial Stability Board, which synthesizes the Group of 20 World’s Leading Economies, is attempting to create new regulations in a sparsely regulated area of Finance. The $5.3 Trillion Dollars a Day in Foreign Exchange is of obvious interest to plotters of Rate Fixing.  Much like the London Inter-Bank Rate Scandal, this may even be larger in size.

Investors must realize that the “Morality of the Foreign Exchange Marketplace” is as developed as is a Hologram; pleasant to look at but of little substance.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/24/us-markets-forex-benchmarks-idUSBREA0N1H920140124