International Commerce

☆ Solar Powered Aircraft Is Designed To Circumnavigate The Globe

News Analysis: The just revealed Solar Powered Aircraft Is Designed To Circumnavigate The Globe with its crew of two. Subsequent to an earlier version of a smaller aircraft, which transited the United States, this version has been designed for Intercontinental travel.

The Entrepreneurs who consummated this Project are to be commended for their

Assumption of Risk (Financial and future Physical), Manufacturing Prowess, Vision, and Tenacity.

In their own manner, they are like a “Felix Baumgartner” of the World,; a MAN to which we hold in Great Esteem for his “Increasing Man’s Scientific Knowledge (At Possible Inordinate Physical Risk to Himself)”.

Some Men Are “Men”; Many Others Are Mere Apparitions of Such.

Reality.

Reference: http://rt.com/news/solar-airplane-global-flight-488/

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel Can Only Guess As To What The NSA Knows About Her

News Analysis: Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel Can Only Guess As To What The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) knows about Her since it will not release a Copy of Her file to the Chancellor; Naturally.

The Omnipotent and Omniscient ‘NSA’ does” What it wants, When it wants, to Whom it wants, many International Observers think.

If one thinks about the Adage of Britain’s Lord Palmerston: “Nations have no permanent friends or allies. They only have permanent interests.” then the hopes of the German Chancellor to have an Ally (America) act as an “Ally:,  is a ‘Non Sequitur’, unfortunately.

One might think that there is Absolutely Nothing that Germans can do to  protect their Privacy. This Assumption is Incorrect; one must merely “Think Outside The Box” for answers to achieving Privacy in Germany (or elsewhere); We have.

We cannot divulge our Conclusions about this problem for: “The ‘NSA’ might be listening”.  

To the German People we say: “Contact Us, Face-to-Face. We can help.”

Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/mmvsahq

☆ Police Cooperation Is Essential, World-Wide, For Illegal Drug Distribution

News Analysis: Police Cooperation Is Essential, World-Wide, For Illegal Drug Distribution many International Law Enforcement Veterans think; a few “Bad Apples” ruin the ‘Pie’. Corrupting  one or more of the ‘Local Police’ in a community gives the Distributors ‘Protection’ (so they are not arrested with their ‘Community Goods’).

The spectacular Global Omnipresence of Cocaine, Heroin, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide [LSD], Marijuana, Methamphetamines, and Opium, among other ‘Products’ EVERYWHERE, can only occur with Cooperating Law Enforcement Personnel; ‘Unenforced Law Enforcement (ULE) is what some people call this situation.

Not only is ‘ULE’ part of the problem, but also ‘Money Laundering’ of the Prodigious Sums being constantly received. When the amounts coming into the ‘Cartels’ exceed their abilities to “Clean them”, they gets warehoused. There are many anecdotes about ‘Monies Palletized” in Warehouses and Rats eating some of the Dollars. Guards shoot at them with shotguns (with small pellets) to stop the encroachment.

If one considers: Accountants, Attorneys, Bankers, Big-Ticket Salesmen,  Judges, Medical Professionals, Real Estate Brokers, Stock Brokers, and others who gain from these Nefarious Activities, “Who Is Really Clean?”. If the users of the ‘Chemicals’ are included, the answer is: “Those Who Are Too Wise To Be Stupid”.

The Accused Real-life “Miami Vice” Lieutenant is merely one who got caught; all of the others are still plying their Trade, World-Wide. As long as there are Buyers, there will be Sellers.

Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/m6v7drz

☆ Cyber-Attacks In 2013 “Steal” 552 Million Identities

News Analysis: The Intellect and Patience exhibited by Hackers in Cyber-Attacks In 2013  and “Stealing” 552 Million Identities is impressive of its Scale. Businesses which have been Attacked, Embarrassed, and have Lost Customers can appreciate the Nefarious Abilities of the Intellectual Perpetrators; Everyone who uses a Computer is at Risk.

We think that it is a “Tactical Oxymoron” for businesses to attempt to “Lessen their Information Technology (IT) Costs” by signing their companies up with Cloud Computing Companies where Increased Risks are apparent in such  arrangements (due to Extended Physical Communication Routing Paths) and “Resultant Costs Can Soar”. How can a possible future Contracting Company know about the Bona fides of all of the Cloud Computing Personnel if it has not performed Background Checks on everyone working there? Oral assurances by the Cloud Computing Company are not sufficient; they want the MONEY and will say that which helps them get it.

Internalizing ALL ‘IT’ Activities in One’s Own Company and Trusting yet Verifying everyone therein makes sense for Risk Minimization. If a penetration takes place by a Hacker(s); it may be identified quicker and corrective action taken. Assuredly, they can trust their own VERIFIED Staff better than Cloud Computing ‘Outsiders’ they had not Investigated.

Why contribute this year to providing additional Identities to Hackers beyond the 552 Million they attained in 2013?

Relative to Corporate ‘IT’ Security, Wise Senior Executives Sleep with One Eye Open.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/symantec-data-breaches-exposed-552-million-identities-2013-1443874

☆ Renewable Energy Investments (REI’s) World-Wide Are Abating

News Analysis: Renewable Energy Investments (REI’s) World-Wide Are Abating many businessmen say; this, because the Return on Investment (ROI) is mediocre at best. All of the Direct and Indirect Costs associated with many ‘REI’s’ are much greater than possible Earnings Over Time.

A big Countering-Factor in the Energy Sector is that Petroleum Reserves are being expanded by both Off-Shore Deep-water Deposits and Colossal Size Oil Shale Fields. As an example, the Oil Shale Field in Venezuela and the one in Russia Ural Area are both individually larger than some countries!

Economically it is difficult to better energy over Petroleum. Many ‘REI’s’ have inconsistent energy production on a daily basis; the Wind may not blow, Solar Cells do not work well at night on mere Starlight. Another difficulty with ‘REI’s’ is energy transport from sources to Humanity. One may find a great Geo-Thermal Vent but there is no way to transmit its Energy long distances to where it may be needed (without extensive Investments). Petroleum is mature as to its Delivery Infrastructure.

While it is certainly fashionable to “Think Green”, International Businessmen know one must also “Think Green” (about Money). Without Money, Their Days Will Not Be Sunny.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20140408001054

☆ America Is To Import No Oil By 2037; Just Deplete Its Reserves: Illogical Logic?

News Analysis: America Is To Import No Oil By 2037; Just Deplete Its Reserves: Illogical Logic? In Investments, using “Other People’s Money” and Retaining your Own, is considered Very Wise. In America, regarding Oil Production, the reverse practice of using its Own oil, and saving Other’s, is practiced; “Great Logic” one may ask?

If one observes the practices of other Nations who have oil, they might see some attempting to Diversify Out of Oil Sales for Country Revenue Gains (and Oil Reserves Retention). In America, where “Anything For A Buck” (AFAB) Mentality permeates some of its Leaders, Shale Oil is sought to be Exported rather than Retained for Future Use. “If Oil is Valuable to a Country now, it will be more Valuable and Pricier in the future when it is in Short Supply”,  Businessmen might think.

Perhaps haughty Washington, D.C. Leaders think that Hegemonic America can merely “Take” whatever Oil it needs, in the future, from other lesser-defended Countries. They may be forgetting about the Debacle (to Gain Iraq Oil, the Mass Media declared) they created for the Iraqi People by a Miserably Planned and  executed attack on the Country. To eliminate the Iraqi Leader and his two Sons (THREE PEOPLE), they Physically Destroyed Iraq (at the cost of thousands of killed and injured Americans and Iraqis). America, in this case, ended up with next to no Oil attained, but other Nations are buying Oil from Iraq now.

Other Nations understand the benefit of utilizing the “Energy Principle” of ‘Other People’s Oil’ (OPO) while they keep their for future use. ‘OPO’ for Countries, realistically makes sense and will ‘make cents’ in coming years.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11234488

Airbus Makes Emergency Landing Because Of A Hot Oven

News Analysis: Airbus Makes Emergency Landing Because Of A Hot Oven  since the Airline apparently knew Cosmetic Fiberglass-Bagged Insulation is worthless (in stopping the level of Oven Heat from transferring to the rest of the Aircraft). Too bad the Aircraft did not have the ‘Cocoon of Protection’ “Mega-Temp™” Insulation therein (rather than 1930’s-invented Cosmetic Fiberglass Insulation).

If an Airline wants its Aircraft to: Control Thermal Radiation from the Sun; Keep Fuselage Interiors Warm on the ground in the Winter and at  Cruise Altitude; Reduce Noise Levels; have less Weight, and STOP Fire Progression, then usage of ‘Mega-Temp™” is essential.

Airlines that purchase Aircraft, and ask for “Mega-Temp™”  Insulation to be installed therein, at the Manufacturer, must realize: WE WILL NOT PAY BRIBES in the forms of either Free Ownership Interest In Our Company to the Airframes or their Executives, NOR Monies to Airframe Executives (historically, they have asked for both). 

Reality.

Reference: http://tinyurl.com/m7bstfc

★ Italian-Owned Swiss “Mediterranean Shipping Company, S.A.”, (MSC) Is World’s Largest Container Shipping Line

News Analysis: Privately Italian-Owned Swiss “Mediterranean Shipping Company, S.A.”, (MSC) Is the World’s Largest Container Shipping Line (since Danish Shipping Giant Maersk has decided to adjust its Ship Inventory).

Founded in 1970, by Mr. Gianluigi Aponte,  in Geneva, Switzerland, today ‘MSC’ operates 447+ Container Ships with a capacity of 2,314,000+ Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (Twenty Foot Long Shipping Containers).

It is interesting to note that Mr. Aponte is not discussed widely in the Mass Media; Compared to,  the vastly written about  ‘Billionaire Nabobs’ of the Electronic: Hardware Companies, Internet Relationship Sites, Software Manufacturers, or Entertainment Company “Owners”. The aforementioned Corporations are PUBLICLY HELD and ‘Minority Share Owned’ by their Founders. 

Mr. Aponte’s Accomplishments are to be greatly respected in the International Community. His Creation was not an Inheritance, nor Gift, as it is with so many ‘Others’ discussed in the Press (or the Subject of Motion Pictures).

Many International Businessmen KNOW: “Being Everywhere, While Being Nowhere” is the Apotheosis of Commerce. It grants one Privacy and the capability to “Call One’s Own Shots”; not be controlled by Oblique Investors who know little but unfortunately, think they know everything.

Reality.

 Reference: http://cphpost.dk/news/maersk-dethroned-as-king-of-the-seas.9178.html

☆ Philippine Islands Salt Sale Is Corruption Free By Design

News Analysis: A Philippine Islands Salt Sale Is Corruption Free By Design, because a Government Agency to Government Agency Methodology was employed. A Fertilizer contract to supply 300,000 50 Kg. (110 Lb.) Bags of Salt directly, rather than through Brokers and/or Sales Agents, reduces the chances of Bribery being employed. In “Private Corporate Sales”, many times, Purchasing Agents are Bribe Recipients from Sales Agents (sometimes with a ‘kick-back’ of a portion of the Bribe to the Sales Agent).

In Corporations where it is ‘Traditional’ to Purchase Goods/Hardware/Software through “Local Product Distributors”, rather than buy Directly from the Manufacturer,: ASSUME THE BRIBE METHODOLOGY IS ACTIVELY EMPLOYED AND OPERATIONALLY SHIELDED IN THAT BUSINESS. This scenario is true throughout the World of Commerce.

We have seen the “Indirect Purchase Ploy” attempted numerous times regarding acquisition of “Mega-Temp™” Insulation. An Airframe or Other Manufacturer will state that rather than buy our Insulation  Directly from Us, they want to Purchase it through a “Distributor/Middleman” in their Country or another Country.  The flimsiest excuses are offered up for the diversion; but the ‘Bottom Line’ is someone(s) in Corporate Management wants to “Get Greased”; Bribery is for Bozos. 

We are of the opinion that a ‘Clean’ Business Transaction, anywhere in the World,  is Best for All Parties Concerned.

One does not last for Decades in International Commerce when a great part of his or her  time is spent looking “in a rear-view mirror” to see if Intelligent People have discovered one’s Mis-deeds. “Always and All-Ways Fly Straight So You Do Not Collide With An Immovable Mountain”.

Reality.

Reference: http://www.manilatimes.net/pca-palawan-sign-salt-fertilizer-supply-deal/86909/

Bicycle Thievery In Austria Abounds

News Analysis: Bicycle Thievery In Austria Abounds with over 26,000+ Stolen last year. The 8.2 Million Austrians, who ride bicycles, apparently do not pay much attention to the particulars of their ‘mounts’ beyond the color, Police Officials state. In fact only 30% of those who had their bicycles stolen knew the Serial Number of their transportation. 21% of owner do NOT lock their Bicycles.

World-Wide, Organized Crime and/or mere Opportunistic Crooks will steal ANYTHING that is not sufficiently locked. International Bike Theft Rings do exist.

As the adage goes for Bicycles: “If They are Not Locked, their Owners will Walk”.

Reality.

Reference: http://austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2014-04-03/50687/Over_26K_bikes_stolen_last_year