Showing posts with label crash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crash. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 02, 2015

The Wild Rose Express coming round the mountain

Conservatives are mantra chant economics by introducing the false idea that this isn't a real recession. Two quarters of productivity decline is only one single number. There are other numbers that point to a reality that they know is just around on the other side of the mountain. Never dismiss just the statistic, begin by observing the economic problems in the People's Republic of China. Witness the numbers of ships sitting at anchor waiting around the globe, for cargo any cargo. The currency has declined. Stock markets kiss the bear. Interest rates are artificially too low. Take it all together. 

The 2008 recession was short and quick simply because it begun in the financial sector in the American, Fanny Mae debacle. The only reason that Canada appeared to do better was that the last set of banking regulations preserved economic stability. Harper took credit for it. In reality Paul Martin was the Liberal architect.

Thirty six thousand Albertans have been laid off. Small businesses will go belly up. Houses will stream onto the market, and worse a rapid rise in bankruptcies guaranteed early next year. Three Lake Freighters, are laid up in Toronto Harbour, you can see them from Sugar Beach. Its the first time since 1989, another stock market driven that ships were tied up. I've experienced the 1974 recession, the 1981 Reagancession, the 1988 recession which stretched through 1993 eliminated when Clinton took over the White House, 2008 blowup Fanny Mae Bushcession. I worked in pulp and paper during a localized industrial recession. That's the economic history.

I know something about recessions. And this one is far more serious than the Conservatives are willing to admit before the election. Its the same bunch of economic knuckle heads in Alberta who put that province into a very poor economic condition to line pockets by totally depending on the performance of a single natural nonrenewable resource. Worse still the incoming government is left holding the bag for a total economic disaster. It didn't matter which political party came into power in Alberta. The Harper type Conservatives literally raided the pantry and left everyone else holding the bag.

The only reason that things appear stable is because the Harper government is deliberately controlling the artificially low interest rate which shelters most people. Mark this... And mark this well. After October election, when the foppish Joe Oliver is no longer Finance Minister, regardless of which party wins the election, the base interest rates have to start rising, then that is when the real hardship on you is going to be felt for at least three probably four years.

Statistically, we are in recession but that interest rate has to come up to support, to stabilize the currency. Paul Martin is on the Liberal staff to encourage deliberate deficit spending. And that would be the same regardless. Why? Its because the Harper government rode the oil pony without making any effort to support the manufacturing sector in central and maritime Canada.

Harper has got it totally wrong. The next government has to be interventionist no matter who gets in power. He knows that the interest rates are going to rise after the end of October coming. The level of private debt in Canada is obscene right now. No politician is dealing with that as yet. The reality is that the Bank of Canada is protecting Harper by suppressing interest rates.

Raising interest rates does something to the economic situation. First it does support and stall the currency from going into a tail spin. Second it will only have positive results in the artificially obscene real estate market by causing a decline in housing prices, the correction that is coming like a locomotive pulling a train through a tunnel - you can hear it and very soon you will see it. Combined with the artificially low interest rates, the astronomically high housing prices, the collapse of the dollar, the recent downturn in stocks globally, the downturn in international industrial output, that train is coming. This isn't the end, what you are looking at is the cow catcher

Monday, August 20, 2007

Beltless and Brainless, a waltz

Our fearless military just filed a report with CTV. The story filed to their excellent news department. (FYI that's a masterful sarcasm)

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Seatbelt came undone before Snowbird crash

Updated Mon. Aug. 20 2007 12:51 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

A report into the fatal crash of a jet from the Snowbirds aerobatic squadron says the pilot lost control of his plane when his seatbelt became unfastened.

Capt. Shawn McCaughey was killed May 18 during an air show practice at Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls, Mont.

The interim investigator's report says McCaughey was flying upside down during a pre-show practice session when his seatbelt came unfastened, he fell out of his seat and lost control of his Tutor jet.

The crash occurred during an inverted pass about 22 minutes into the show, when the No. 2 aircraft dipped low, wavered, and left the formation inverted.

The report says the aircraft climbed, then rolled upright before nosing over at about 750 feet above ground level.

McCaughey's plane hit the ground at about 45 degrees nose down. He never ejected from the aircraft.

The four-paragraph summary says the probe will now focus on how the seatbelt came loose.

According to the summary, preventive measures are already being implemented, including changes to the pilot restraint system, to the aircraft operating instructions and enhanced training for aircrew and passengers.

The Snowbirds aerobatic team has dedicated its season to McCaughey.

McCaughey is the third Snowbird pilot to die since 1998 and the sixth in the squadron's 35-year history.

He was replaced by Capt. Paul Couillard, a veteran of five seasons with the Snowbirds.

Courtesy a very un-inquisitive CTV news bureau.
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Does this particular excuse provide holes in it. And on so many levels. CTV reporters are so gullible on this one.

Its not just an ordinary seat belt. Its a full restraint harness. I've looked at a jet harness and it is a star harness, almost the same kind as race car drivers have worn for years. So they are telling you and me, that a pilot going inverted:

1. Doesn't check his harness.

2. That all four snaps failed all at once. He was flying inverted.

3. Isn't the plane's tech supposed to check this harness at spool up?

3. No where did the story indicate positive G's on this maneuver. I mean, simply a 1 G. Positive broke all four or more straps at the same instant?

This story trotted out by our military simply absolutely stinks. They better invent a better one. I used to work as a free lance stringer and the military claim is total crap and a big disservice to the pilot's family.

How about this? He got sick. Or he may have had a stroke. Or heart attack. All those cut the grass, not the seat belt crap.

And no where does the reporter ask the most pertinent question...Like who tested the broken belts? Which Lab? Is there an independent accident investigator? What tests were conducted to duplicate the incident? What flight models were used? ...and so on.

Come on CTV, hire fewer news readers* and hire some real reporters. You're giving the military a pass on this one.

(I wanted to word it such as this "... hire fewer news readers with larger IQs than their bra sizes." But it was dicey to get this comment approved and they actually might have one with a 56DD)

(Note: After ten minutes... this comment placed to CTV, wasn't published.)

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Saturday, May 19, 2007

Snowbird Crash

Capt. Shawn McCaughey, 31, of the Snowbirds was flying inverted 300' above and down the runway at Malmstrom AB, Montana yesterday when something in the engine let go and he died in the subsequent crash. He is the sixth pilot of the Snowbirds to pass away in this manner.

The plane apparently was Snowbird number Two. These guys risk their lives in the quest to entertain and promote Canada. They are amongst our best ambassadors internationally. This is a very tragic event.

I just thought that I should express my sadness here over this needless accident by posting this information in this entry. If you have a drink of anything handy, please join me in spirit... to this brave man .... A Toast.