The battle between terrorists and those responsible for keeping air passengers safe has moved into a new era. The amount of explosives needed to bring down a passenger jet decreases and human ingenuity ups the ante when it comes to concealment.
The Nigerian passenger who attempted jihad on Christmas morning had concealed the explosives by having it sewn into the crotch of his underpants. The aim was to take advantage of natural modesty. That was the one place a pat down search would not linger.
It is now likely that terrorists will take that one step further. Just as drug smugglers try to get their narcotics through customs by concealing it within their bodies, terrorists can be expected to try concealing explosives within their bodily cavities.
The only way to be totally secure that no explosives are being carried aboard aircraft is for every passenger to be subjected to a scan by a backscatter X-ray machine.
These machines see through clothing and actually detect any foreign matter concealed within the human body. The only disadvantage is modesty. The subject is electronically stripped naked by the search conducted by this machine.
That is a small price to pay for being certain that you will survive the flight.
This is the twenty-first century and we are used to going near naked on the beach. Obviously the sexes should pass through different machines, and the machine operators would be of the same gender as the passenger - in which case the inspection would be little different from a strip search conducted by security now when suspicions are aroused.
Those that object would have an obvious decision. Submit in the interests of the safety of others - or choose another means of transport !
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Debt recovery.
The state government is considering mobile speed cameras as a way to reduce the rising road toll. A greater contribution to road safety would be more of the cameras that can detect stolen or unregistered vehicles by a number plate check.
At the same time, it would be worthwhile to give some consideration as to the reason we have so many unregistered cars on our roads.
The debt recovery office uses cancellation of both registration and driving licenses as a tool to force the repayment of fines.
The problem is that if the person owing the money continues to drive, they become an outlaw not covered by the compulsory green slip insurance policies that safeguard the victims of road accidents.
The green slip system only covers cars that are legally registered and driven by a licensed driver.
Anything that removes more illegal vehicles from the road adds to road safety, and along with more detecting of such vehicles it would be a good idea to offer regular payment reduction of fines as an alternative to the present system.
Just adding more cameras to increase the number of fines issued simply adds to the problem of unregistered cars driven by unlicensed drivers !
At the same time, it would be worthwhile to give some consideration as to the reason we have so many unregistered cars on our roads.
The debt recovery office uses cancellation of both registration and driving licenses as a tool to force the repayment of fines.
The problem is that if the person owing the money continues to drive, they become an outlaw not covered by the compulsory green slip insurance policies that safeguard the victims of road accidents.
The green slip system only covers cars that are legally registered and driven by a licensed driver.
Anything that removes more illegal vehicles from the road adds to road safety, and along with more detecting of such vehicles it would be a good idea to offer regular payment reduction of fines as an alternative to the present system.
Just adding more cameras to increase the number of fines issued simply adds to the problem of unregistered cars driven by unlicensed drivers !
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
World's tallest - target ?
Fireworks and celebrations yesterday to mark the inauguration of the world's tallest building - the mighty 8I8 metre Burj Dubai in the Middle East desert kingdom.
This " skyscraper " will contain several hotels, commercial offices, apartment accommodation for 1044 families - and even a Mosque on the 158'TH floor. It is estimated that when fully complete it will be home or work for 12,000 people.
It must also rank as one of the world's most tempting targets for al Qaeda !
Osama bin Laden has never had scruples against killing Muslims. He only counts as " allies " those Muslims who share his brand of Islam - and even amongst them those who accept and follow his edict of jihad against all unbelievers.
The bin Laden brand condemns the Islamic world to a life of militant poverty, where women remain uneducated and unemployed - and men seek glory by bringing death to others by self immolation.
How offensive this gleaming skyscraper must be to him. It is a symbol of " modernity " - something he hates - and it is also a symbol of Islamic success by Muslims who accept the trappings of the western world - and have achieved this right in the heart of the Muslim world.
Just as the World Trade centre was the prime target for the start of his evil crusade, the Burj Dubai must be a structure he hopes to see crashing to the ground as the result of one of his plots.
That is something that must occupy the minds of all those who live, work or play in this magnificent building - with the hope that those defending it are equal to the task !
This " skyscraper " will contain several hotels, commercial offices, apartment accommodation for 1044 families - and even a Mosque on the 158'TH floor. It is estimated that when fully complete it will be home or work for 12,000 people.
It must also rank as one of the world's most tempting targets for al Qaeda !
Osama bin Laden has never had scruples against killing Muslims. He only counts as " allies " those Muslims who share his brand of Islam - and even amongst them those who accept and follow his edict of jihad against all unbelievers.
The bin Laden brand condemns the Islamic world to a life of militant poverty, where women remain uneducated and unemployed - and men seek glory by bringing death to others by self immolation.
How offensive this gleaming skyscraper must be to him. It is a symbol of " modernity " - something he hates - and it is also a symbol of Islamic success by Muslims who accept the trappings of the western world - and have achieved this right in the heart of the Muslim world.
Just as the World Trade centre was the prime target for the start of his evil crusade, the Burj Dubai must be a structure he hopes to see crashing to the ground as the result of one of his plots.
That is something that must occupy the minds of all those who live, work or play in this magnificent building - with the hope that those defending it are equal to the task !
Monday, 4 January 2010
An unlikely author !
The announcement that our prime minister has become the author of a children's book will be greeted with astonishment by many citizens.
Is this the same Kevin Rudd who was accused of being such a slave driver that his personal staff were suffering " burnout " - and leaving in droves ?
Running a country like Australia is serious business, doubly so when the guy sitting in the Lodge has aspirations to also be a world leader. Our prime minister has had a finger in many big issues - not the least being the Copenhagen meeting to try and find an answer to global warming.
Obviously things have changed if he has found the time to ruminate on the comings and goings of his dog and cat, Jasper and Abbey - and their life amongst the luxury surroundings of Kirribilli House with it's harbour views.
The proceeds from " The great Australia Day kerfuffle " will go to charity because our PM doesn't really need the money, but many will be bemused that he found the time to write a children's book in his first term of office.
The usual book efforts of prime ministers take place once they retire - and ponder the past as they write their memoirs.
At least this prime minister is different !
Is this the same Kevin Rudd who was accused of being such a slave driver that his personal staff were suffering " burnout " - and leaving in droves ?
Running a country like Australia is serious business, doubly so when the guy sitting in the Lodge has aspirations to also be a world leader. Our prime minister has had a finger in many big issues - not the least being the Copenhagen meeting to try and find an answer to global warming.
Obviously things have changed if he has found the time to ruminate on the comings and goings of his dog and cat, Jasper and Abbey - and their life amongst the luxury surroundings of Kirribilli House with it's harbour views.
The proceeds from " The great Australia Day kerfuffle " will go to charity because our PM doesn't really need the money, but many will be bemused that he found the time to write a children's book in his first term of office.
The usual book efforts of prime ministers take place once they retire - and ponder the past as they write their memoirs.
At least this prime minister is different !
Sunday, 3 January 2010
The communications " war " !
2010 looks like being the year that the war between " landline " and " mobile " hots up to fever pitch - and so far mobile is winning hands down.
There are some amazing offers from the mobile companies. For very little each month they will give you a whiz bang new mobile phone - and a hefty credit to make calls and send text messages. Each offer from a rival company is soon exceeded by it's competitors - and the phone user is the winner.
Not so with those who still have a landline phone.
The problem is Telstra. Telstra owns the copper wire that connects your home phone to the telephone exchange - and Telstra dictates what it will cost for each user of that service by way of monthly rental.
All the phone companies are stuck with this charge and as a consequence their approach is to bypass the landline system and promote mobile.
The thinking has changed. Once the equipment and system is in place the actual cost of making a call is not material. The equipment actually does the job automatically, hence if the cost of making calls is not an issue - the profit comes from getting you to connect to that owners network.
We are fast approaching the stage when owning a phone will be simply the network connection fee - and all calls and texts will be free.
And then there is the internet.
Because of that excessive Telstra landline fee the mobile people are pushing " wireless " as the way to go - and like mobile phone charges - this service is dropping in price almost daily.
It must be galling to those unfortunates who hold Telstra shares. Arrogance and an inability to read the market is making their company redundant !
There are some amazing offers from the mobile companies. For very little each month they will give you a whiz bang new mobile phone - and a hefty credit to make calls and send text messages. Each offer from a rival company is soon exceeded by it's competitors - and the phone user is the winner.
Not so with those who still have a landline phone.
The problem is Telstra. Telstra owns the copper wire that connects your home phone to the telephone exchange - and Telstra dictates what it will cost for each user of that service by way of monthly rental.
All the phone companies are stuck with this charge and as a consequence their approach is to bypass the landline system and promote mobile.
The thinking has changed. Once the equipment and system is in place the actual cost of making a call is not material. The equipment actually does the job automatically, hence if the cost of making calls is not an issue - the profit comes from getting you to connect to that owners network.
We are fast approaching the stage when owning a phone will be simply the network connection fee - and all calls and texts will be free.
And then there is the internet.
Because of that excessive Telstra landline fee the mobile people are pushing " wireless " as the way to go - and like mobile phone charges - this service is dropping in price almost daily.
It must be galling to those unfortunates who hold Telstra shares. Arrogance and an inability to read the market is making their company redundant !
Saturday, 2 January 2010
A calculated risk !
Four hundred and fifty passengers and twenty-four crew members spent New Year's eve taking pictures and celebrating the new year while flying over the frozen continent of Antarctica.
A Qantas A380 Airbus departed and returned to Melbourne for that journey, and the flight captain remarked that this was his fortieth trip over the south pole. It seems that a tragedy thirty years ago has slipped most people's minds.
On November 28, 1979 an Air NewZealand DC 10 on a similar joy flight crashed into Mount Eerebus, an active volcano - and all 257 people aboard died.
For a while, flights to the Antarctic ceased because the risk was considered excessive. It seemed madness to deliberately fly a plane load of people to a place where an emergency landing was impossible - and in the event of a crash - any hope of rescue not even a remote possibility.
But - now we are doing it again !
There is no doubt that aircraft design and management has made improvements, but there is also no denying that unexpected events cause problems which require an immediate descent. Fortunately in most cases the ailing aircraft makes it to an airport somewhere along the route - but that becomes impossible when flying over the frozen continent.
Passengers must know this risk when they pay money to visit the south pole, but in the event that one day their luck runs out - and we have a plane somewhere on the ice - with survivors that can not be rescued - then the whole concept of such flights will again be adversely questioned.
It is a sobering thought when making that travel decision !
A Qantas A380 Airbus departed and returned to Melbourne for that journey, and the flight captain remarked that this was his fortieth trip over the south pole. It seems that a tragedy thirty years ago has slipped most people's minds.
On November 28, 1979 an Air NewZealand DC 10 on a similar joy flight crashed into Mount Eerebus, an active volcano - and all 257 people aboard died.
For a while, flights to the Antarctic ceased because the risk was considered excessive. It seemed madness to deliberately fly a plane load of people to a place where an emergency landing was impossible - and in the event of a crash - any hope of rescue not even a remote possibility.
But - now we are doing it again !
There is no doubt that aircraft design and management has made improvements, but there is also no denying that unexpected events cause problems which require an immediate descent. Fortunately in most cases the ailing aircraft makes it to an airport somewhere along the route - but that becomes impossible when flying over the frozen continent.
Passengers must know this risk when they pay money to visit the south pole, but in the event that one day their luck runs out - and we have a plane somewhere on the ice - with survivors that can not be rescued - then the whole concept of such flights will again be adversely questioned.
It is a sobering thought when making that travel decision !
Friday, 1 January 2010
What a new year brings !
Last night a lot of people stayed up late and watched the fireworks as a new year arrived. Some made resolutions - and most at least wondered what interesting events would occur during the next three hundred and sixty five days.
The " gloom and doom " people might be interested to know that there is an asteroid whizzing around in space that has a chance of colliding with the earth - in twenty six years time. According to the science people - in 2036!
Of course that needs to be taken in context. This great hunk of rock has been making passes at the earth for centuries and will miss by just 30,000 kilometres in 2029 - and that is termed " a close encounter ".
The odds of it actually " dinging " earth have increased from one in forty five thousand - to four in a million. That should be enough to dismiss it from most minds.
The asteroid even has a name. It's called " Apophis " - and now we can go back to nursing that new year's eve hangover - and worrying about how we can pay the Visa card and the gas bill.
Forget about Apophis. If we are still around that will be something to mix with the fireworks when we get ready to welcome a new year twenty six years from now !
The " gloom and doom " people might be interested to know that there is an asteroid whizzing around in space that has a chance of colliding with the earth - in twenty six years time. According to the science people - in 2036!
Of course that needs to be taken in context. This great hunk of rock has been making passes at the earth for centuries and will miss by just 30,000 kilometres in 2029 - and that is termed " a close encounter ".
The odds of it actually " dinging " earth have increased from one in forty five thousand - to four in a million. That should be enough to dismiss it from most minds.
The asteroid even has a name. It's called " Apophis " - and now we can go back to nursing that new year's eve hangover - and worrying about how we can pay the Visa card and the gas bill.
Forget about Apophis. If we are still around that will be something to mix with the fireworks when we get ready to welcome a new year twenty six years from now !
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