Coping: Reinventing Airspace

A very interesting article in the Chinese news agency Xinhua caught by eye this morning: It details Chinese plans to promote civilian general aviation in coming years.

Unlike the US which invented aviation in many ways, the Chinese have always had a big government approach to things with (near as I can tell) the word “Official” being one of their most important words. But with plans to loosen up use of airspace up to 1,000 meters (3,200 feet above ground level) to general aviation, they’re hoping to kick off a lot of growth. From 1,100 aircraft now to perhaps 10,000 to 12,000 aircraft by 2020.

That compares with 223,370 general aviation aircraft in the US (2010 figures) and I’ve been reading a number of articles lately about US aircraft being delivered to China. One story (might have been in the AOPA magazine) involved a couple of single engine planes going to Hawaii and then on to China. Cirrus if I remember right. Took out the right front seat, put in gas bladders and off they went.

All of which has got me to planning and plotting a really great adventure again. Wouldn’t it be cool to take off from East Texas, fly up to Alaska, then over the Bering, and down from Siberia to Mongolia and into China?

With the Chinese in the process of “reinventing airspace” seems it’s only a matter of time until the Chinese market opens up as a market for used US general aviation aircraft. And, since we don’t plan to own an airplane forever, what would be cooler than a “final flight” as a huge adventure like this…selling the old plane to China which could use it as a training aircraft? Do the big half-around the world flight….

Pipe dream, perhaps, but already with Cirrus moving some product that way, seems only a matter of time until there will be lots of general aviation aircraft from the US market going to China. And a delivery flight like that would be amazing fun.

Police State Adventures

Justice still works. Remember that former Marine who was busted and tossed into a psych-eval unit because of his Facebook posts? Well, he’s getting out and a press release from the Rutherford Institute is worth careful study:

“CHESTERFIELD, VA— In an unexpected ruling handed down today by Circuit Court Judge Allan Sharrett, the judge dismissed the government’s case against Brandon Raub, the Marine who was arrested by local police and FBI agents, detained in a psychiatric ward and forced to undergo psychological evaluations based solely on the controversial nature of lines from song lyrics, political messages and virtual card games which he posted to his private Facebook page.

Judge Sharrett dismissed the petition for involuntary commitment on the grounds that the petition “is so devoid of any factual allegations that it could not be reasonably expected to give rise to a case or controversy.” Raub is expected to be released immediately. “This is a great victory for the First Amendment and the rule of law,” said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. “Brandon Raub was arrested with no warning, targeted for doing nothing more than speaking out against the government, detained against his will, and isolated from his family, friends and attorneys. These are the kinds of things that take place in totalitarian societies. Today, at least, Judge Allan Sharrett proved that justice can still prevail in America.”

Brandon Raub, a former Marine who has served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was detained by FBI agents and police officers at his home in Chesterfield County based upon the nature of content posted to his Facebook page in recent months. Like many Facebook users, Raub uses his Facebook page to post song lyrics and air his political opinions, as well as engage in virtual online games with other users.

On Thursday, August 16, 2012, police and FBI agents arrived at Raub’s home, asking to speak with him about his Facebook posts. They did not provide Raub with a search warrant. Raub was cooperative and agreed to speak with them. Without providing any explanation, levying any charges against Raub or reading him his rights, law enforcement officials then handcuffed Raub and transported him first to the police headquarters, then to John Randolph Medical Center, where he was held against his will due to alleged concerns that his Facebook posts were “terrorist in nature.”

Outraged onlookers filmed the arrest and posted the footage to YouTube. In a hearing before Special Justice Walter Douglas Stokes on August 20, government officials again pointed to Raub’s Facebook posts as the sole reason for their concern and for his continued incarceration. Ignoring Raub’s explanations about the fact that the FB posts were being read out of context and his attorney’s First Amendment defense, Stokes sentenced the former Marine to up to 30 days’ further confinement in a psychiatric ward and signed a court order for Raub’s involuntary admission to the Veterans Hospital in Salem.

In coming to Raub’s defense, attorneys for The Rutherford Institute challenged the actions of Chesterfield County, Va. as procedurally improper, legally unjustified, and in violation of Raub’s First Amendment rights. Institute attorneys appeared before the Circuit Court on August 23 to request that Raub be transferred back to John Randolph Medical Center while Institute attorneys attempted to secure his release.

However, Judge Allan Sharrett declared the government’s case to be lacking in factual allegations and ordered Raub immediately released.”

I’m not sure what a “special justice” is in Virginia, but I wonder if they click heels?

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Meantime, however, the issue of what’s fair on Facebook is far from over. Texas Tourism and Silverseas cruises get gold stars from us today for pulling their Facebook ads over FB’s Pedophiles page…and a tip of the hat to John Crudele of the NY Post for his coverage of this.

Everything’s a business model and Perry’s crew gets that. And about claims that the page is “humor?” There are some social ills that just ain’t funny and this is one of them. Sick.

Returning from Gout

Slowly, but surely, on the mend…and thanks to eating two crackers and a waffle on Thursday, losing weight at the same time. Thanks to all for the suggestions…may be a few days behind on emails, but will catch up over the weekend, I expect….patience plase!

Write when you break even…

George Ure (email comments to george@ure.net)

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Will the Real Unemployment Rate…

A subscriber (whose initials are David in Arkansas) sends me notes nearly every time I mention an “official” unemployment rate number along with notes that go to the idea “Why do you repeat that crap?” since the real unemployment rate he claims is virtually always something other than the “official” reported number. So as promised, a look at the unemployment rate conundrum, which is come ways comes down to a “Pick a number, any number…” kind of problem after a stroll through some headlines. More for Subscribers To Subscribe, CLICK HERE Need Logon Assistance? Click here

Safer Computing: Swearing Off Cookies

It has been a while since I roared the praises of the Maxa Cookie Manager which you can download and install for a free test drive by clicking here.

To upgrade from the demo to full working is still less than $30 (During their Spring Sale) and one heck of a bargain at that, if I do say so.

“Live on $10,000″ A Year

Having a hard time making ends meet? (Like who isn’t, right?) A good starting point to better match up income with outgo is our $10 e-book “How to Live on $10,000 a Year…or less!”