I saw on the news that a 13-year old girl, Carly, who is severely autistic, is now communicating on the computer. Her parents were astounded when, two years ago, Carly typed out some words. She is communicating, through the voice on the computer, what it’s like inside her (more…)

I heard a new term … the ‘new politics’. The newscaster said that this means it is not to misconstrue statements made by the candidate, or the candidate’s spouse. Listen to what the candidates are saying, how they are saying it, their body language …. and what (more…)

What an ingenious way to communicate! This is my most recent foray into the multi-faceted technological communications world. I have seen, as I’m sure you have too, many emails and statements whose meaning has been misconstrued because of vague words, lifeless tone and ambiguous meanings. It will (more…)

 It appears there indeed are two sides to a story … the question is, who do you believe?  And why? http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/1307-full.html#199690

Patty Wagstaff says she “probably did use a few choice words” for Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputies when she was arrested on a runway at Wittman Regional Airport but she maintains that officers overstepped their bounds during the incident. Local authorities paint a different picture. The Oshkosh Northwestern obtained copies of reports by arresting officers and jail personnel, including a video of the booking procedure, and what resulted is a she said/he said collection of (more…)

I have been listening to the uninformed bash and slash business aviation … “the fat cats whisking their girlfriends / mistresses / lovers away to the islands …” or “those that can afford to own their own airplane don’t really need it … look at the Big Three!  How dare (more…)

“We need the stimulus to jumpstart the economy”

is what we’ve been hearing so many times.

When asked what it will do, the response is “the stimulus will be creating jobs” and that is said rather smugly.  Let me ask you – does that address the core problem?  Or is it implied that throwing money in this way will resolve the situation in (more…)

Michael Steele, the Chair of the Republican National Committee, said this recently:  Creating jobs is not the same as creating work. Creating jobs is a position that has an end date… a contract.  When the work is complete, the job is complete.  The person holding the job is free (more…)

Airline industry “now shrinking by all measures”

The year has started out with gloomy predictions as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) says that the worldwide industry is “now shrinking by all measures”. November 2008 traffic data showed a 4.6 per cent drop in international passenger traffic and a 13.5 per cent drop in international cargo. International capacity dropped by one per cent, while load factors fell three percentage points to 72.7 per cent.

The article goes on to say that those airlines in the Asia Pacific area are working in the worst environment.  Even China has been hit after the Olympics. Eurpoean traffic is down also .. every market area fell.  North American airlines were not immune to the decrease in international traffic either – the second largest drop among regions.  Yes our financial economic woes have affected international travel.

 Bisignani concluded: “with no end in sight for the worsening global economy, the 2008 gloom will carry over into the new year. Relief in the oil price has been outstripped by the falls in demand and capacity cuts are not keeping pace. The industry is back in intensive care. Improving efficiency everywhere will be theme for 2009.”

Let me ask you …. when you read news like this, are you accepting it as fact because it was ‘reported on the news’?  Or are you asking yourself ‘Is this slanted … does the publisher want me to think fear, gloom and doom?’

It’s not what they wrote, it’s what you think you read

I have been listening to a lot of talk radio lately … one question that is surfacing is “Do you want Obama to succeed?” Now before you answer the question, let me ask you – what question are you answering?  Do you want Obama to succeed as a President?  (more…)