Open Season on Muslims!

“K****** H***: Yes come on Don[ald Trump] get rid of the filthy scumbags .Make it "open" season on getting rid of muslims and put a 10cent reward on each one that's shot.”

This was an open post on ‘Facebook’.

Appalling, no?

It was all about this sentiment:

“Muslims from USA: We will try to impeach President Donald Trump. We need to bring Sharia Law into American culture. Do you support Trump if he deport all of them?”

You will immediately observe that there was no intent stated to make Sharia Law the law of the land. It was an intent to bring it into the American culture just as Hebraic, or Halakha, Law is part of the American culture now. Hebraic Law is only observable by Jews just as Syaria Law only applies to Muslims. 

Who it is that Trump is supposed to deport is not clear.

The response on the (somewhat biased) website: 

“This form of malice inside our nation is effectively attempting to get Trump impeached and put a liberal ‘doll’ into control so they can pick up the capacity to execute Sharia Law in our nation!

The Council on American-Islamic Relations-(CAIR) needs to have Sharia Law brought into American culture, so they can turn Islam into taking control over the nation and the world somewhen [sic].

Their mission is to enslave ladies and do what they need from them, in addition actualizing numerous other inhuman measures.

After President Trump got into office, they have been having an intense time of things because of his strike on radical Islam and illegal migration, so they are at the moment calling for Trump to be dismissed.

Everything was going so smooth and easy with Obama, and they though that with Hillary there will be more of the same. Unfortunately for them, Donald Trump won the election and ruined their chances.”

I was curious to see the paragraph that stated, “Their mission is to enslave ladies and do what they need from them, in addition actualizing numerous other inhuman measures.”

From whence cometh this mission statement, which is severely at odds with the concept of Sharia Law?

My response:

“Do you understand 'Syaria' law? Do you understand the difference between 'Syaria' and 'Hudud' law?
I suspect a little research might be necessary before anyone gets too agitated about this.”

I was immediately vilified.

There was a suggestion that I should leave their country alone and that Syrian [sic] Law is inapplicable in the US.

Curiously, the fellow who posted the comment at the top of the page is also not from the US, but his comment is acceptable. Odd.

There was no intention in any of my comments to ride roughshod over anyone else’s beliefs let alone their Nation. It just goes to show that people will read what they want to read rather than what is actually said.

Given the current state of America and its leadership it is entirely possible that a bit of Syaria Law might be useful.

It is also sad that a person who comes from what is purported to be a civilised and educated country could call for ‘open season’ on followers of another belief.

Once again, I should call our attention to an earlier ‘Blog’:

http://davidsleyman.blogspot.my/2013/11/vicious-generalisations.html

We are as we think. Possibly even more so than as we do!

Mushrooms v. Toadstools

We are all, I am sure, aware that flowers come in many types, sizes, colours, scents and shapes.

We are all equally sure that they display such a tremendous variety because they wish to encourage the appropriate creature – bug, bird, reptile or mammal, to come and fertilise them and take away some of their own pollen to fertilise another plant of the same variety.

Sometimes flowers on plants are male or female in which case the male will wish to have its pollen passed to the required female plant.

The plants themselves are possessed with a magnificent array of armoury to prevent the unwanted visitation of those creatures who would do it harm as well as encouraging the 'good' guys to the table.

Beautiful Flowers

But what of fungi?

Fungi, whether edible or not, come in a vast range of colours and shapes.

Why?

What is the purpose of such a plethora of shades and shapes for a fungus?

The visible bit of a fungus is the mushroom or toadstool that we are all familiar with. But this visible part is only the ‘flower’; it is the part that disperses its spores so that it can continue to flourish elsewhere.

To this end there is only a need for one type of head. And yet there are thousands and thousands of different heads all appearing differently from one another.

What is the point of such diverse variety? They are dumping spores – end of story, really.

Perhaps someone can explain it to me.

I did mention that some can be eaten and some cannot but, firstly, let’s see if there is a difference between mushrooms and toadstools.

“There is no real, scientifically accepted difference between a mushroom and a toadstool, and the terms can sometimes be used interchangeably to refer to the same types of fungus. However, in common, non-scientific usage, the term “toadstool” is more often given to those fungi that are poisonous or otherwise inedible.”

So how do we avoid eating poisonous toadstools – like Fly Agaric?

Fly Agaric

Some good rules apply for avoiding poisonous mushrooms if you are a novice;

1.           Avoid mushrooms with white gills, a skirt or ring on the stem and a bulbous or sack like base called a volva. 

2.           Avoid mushrooms with red on the cap or stem.

3.           Finally don't consume any mushrooms unless you are 100% sure of what they are.

All of the Amanita fungi are poisonous – some of them are deadly. The Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) is particularly dangerous. They are called this because they are traditionally used for catching flies but, be warned, in some countries using them may be illegal.

Most Puffball Toadstools are not poisonous. The problem here is that some look similar to young Agarics – especially the deadly Amanitas – such as the Death Cap or Destroying Angel Mushrooms. For this reason all Puffballs gathered when looking for Mushrooms should be cut in half lengthwise.

PuffBall

Death Cap 

Destroying Angel Mushroom

This is not to put you off eating mushrooms; on the contrary, they are a delicious addition to many meals and make a wonderful soup on their own.

The responsible approach is to go with an expert or, better still, go to a supermarket or farmer’s market for your supply.

Shiitake Mushrooms

 

Horse Mushroom (Great raw or for soup!)

Champignons (Button) Mushrooms

 But I am still puzzled. Why the variety? Why do some fungi need to be deadly?

The world can be a strange place.

Sequels, Prequels and Flashbacks

Having just noticed that ‘Deadpool 2’ has just been released and that ‘Solo’, a ‘Star Wars’ spin-off, is about to be on the circuit it occurs to me that there seem to be a huge array of films around about us that are a follow-on from the original.

This really only occurred to me recently because there was an advertisement* for a film called ‘Return to the Blue Lagoon’. It would appear that this is a remake of the old film but with more adult actors and a few changes in the script and setting.

The original film was excellent. This one? No comment as it has yet, if ever, to be viewed.

But why the sequel? 

There is a strong suspicion that the makers will hope that those of us in the older segment of the population will recall the original film with some fondness and go to see it. It may appeal to the younger audience a fascination o see what it was about the original film that causes people to speak well of it.

So money, then.

It is all about money.

‘Blade Runner’ was another film in the same vein. The original was superb. A masterpiece of the film-makers art. The sequel was also an excellent film – supposing, of course, that you remembered the first film otherwise it would have been somewhat mystifying.

Money. Again.

Here we have a successful format and so the temptation to repeat it with a few twists is overwhelming.

‘Star Wars’, mentioned above, is a huge money-spinning project. Not just the film itself that generates vast revenues but the marketing of merchandise must, at least, equal the sums that the film makes on its own.

The whole concept of ‘Star Wars ‘ is built on the idea of ‘prequels’ and ‘sequels’. This is how it is structured – and successfully so.

The idea of ‘Sharknado’, for example’ is entirely different. Here there was an idea that someone had the temerity to put on screens as a visual rendition. It is entirely hokum, nonsensical. Then they decided that the original was so poor that a follow up is necessary to provide depth. Unbelievably there are more sequels to this. Why? The original had nothing to commend it so why on Earth would they make one sequel let alone several – six, in fact. There are also two spin-offs and a video game! 

Unbelievable.

The idea of ‘flashbacks’ is something else that needs to be handled with care - it often is not.

In ‘The Osiris Child’, a formulaic sci-fi movie that is quite entertaining, until the ‘beasts’ arrive, the flashbacks are done quite well in that they are not confusing. But there are many films where my wife and I have stopped the film, or TV series, to discuss whether the action that is taking place is current or whether it is a recollection of the past.

Confusion.

In my own stories I try very hard to keep a ‘straight-line’, avoiding flashbacks altogether. That said, I have hearkened to the past in ‘My Name Is A Number’ but only in the gentlest of ways to avoid confusion in the mind of the reader.

A reviewer once said that they find the timeline in ‘Crater’ confusing, which only goes to prove that you cannot please everyone all the time. I hope that reviewer will find more satisfaction in other stories of mine.

So do I avoid sequels and prequels? No. Not at all. The ‘Adepts’ series is based on sequels and a continuation of their struggles against considerable odds. Similarly, the ‘Ruthermore Heidigens’ series is also a tale of separate stories but linked together in some way.

Of course, the mini-stories of ‘Three’s Company’, ‘Four’s A Crowd’ and ‘Five’s the End' is nothing if not a trilogy of sequels. 

Prequels? Yes. ‘Rhittach’ is a prequel of sorts to the ‘Adepts’ series in the same way that ‘Solo’ is to ‘Star Wars’.

We are not casting sequels, prequels and flashbacks into the pit of damnation but, rather, entering a plea for them to be carried out with more imagination and creativity.

As an aside – what happened to ‘Lucifer’? They left us on a cliff-hanger ending to the third series and then ‘Fox’ drops it.

Let’s hope it finds a new home.

#savelucifer

*'Advertisement'. Pronounced: 'advertissment' and not 'advertyzement'. Just so you know.

Driving Safety

Why is it that when you are driving and looking for an address, you turn down the volume on the radio?

Is it because the noise from the radio is distracting and you really need to focus on looking for that address?

That being the case then perhaps it is time you considered what the radio is doing to your head while you are driving.

For many years I rode motorcycles. In those days there were no entertainment systems designed that you could put in your safety helmet.

We rode with only the sound of the motorcycle and the wind for company. Even chatting with a pillion passenger was not easy and so the back seat enjoyed the view going past to the tune of the engine and the wind.

The main reason, for me, that this was entirely acceptable was that you need to have one hundred per cent concentration and one hundred per cent observation at all times when riding a motorcycle. Should that level begin to drop then you must stop and get off.

There are no alternatives.

The concentration is not just for cornering but also to consider what other road users may do or not do. The observation is in watching those other road users and also looking out for white lines, rain covers, wet leaves, sand and, in France, rainurage!

This ‘rainurage’ is an uneven road surface that in this instance is a set of grooves in the road, at an angle, to take away excessive water. In a car it can be amusing – on a motorcycle…

You will, very likely, now tell me that being on two wheels demands greater application to the task of driving than it does on four wheels.

Because there are a host of other drivers out there who are using their mobile phones to speak, text or play games, or they are busy tuning their radios, adjusting their GPS gadgets or just simply looking for a sweet in the glove box, who are not focussed on driving it behoves you to be extra vigilant.

There is an unfortunate tendency to believe that being wrapped in the cocoon of a metal shell will protect you from all else outside. It will not. Millions of people have tested this hypothesis and found out to their cost and their relatives grief, that the shell is not as protective as you might imagine.

Turning on the radio and boosting the heater or the air conditioner only makes this cocoon feeling worse.

You feel that nothing can harm you or the other people in the car with you.

This is a false premise.

I understand that many people die through ‘micro-naps’. Taking very brief naps when driving while tired. The huge lorry that was some way ahead of you is now, quite suddenly, right in front of you. Some people do not wake up in time…

Music, comfortable temperatures and hypnotic road and wind noises can lull you into this situation quickly even if you feel that you are not tired when you climbed into your vehicle.

We are all aware, even if we do not act on it (shame on us!) that the mobile phone is a great danger. It is not just dialling but speaking on the ‘phone is also dangerous. Why? Because your mind is in the ‘phone with the person on the other end and not on the road where it belongs!Texting is a terrible thing to do while driving and yet you see people o it all the time. Why? Because they are protected, immortal perhaps.

Anything that you can do to make you driving better and safer for yourself and for others is recommended.

Turning the radio off is a good start.

Why Do They Live There?

As a young man I was required to go to Australia. We were based in Singapore at the time where everything seemed civilised and orderly – it is far more so now, of course. 

On entry to Australia at a place called Adelaide, I was surrounded by Customs Officers and Police demanding to see the SLR that I had declared on my customs form pre-landing.

I showed them my Miranda ‘G’ Single Lens Reflex camera. They failed to understand. I explained.

They then informed me that, in Australia, a SLR is a Self Loading Rifle. Everyone else thought it was funny!

Later I discovered that there are a host of creatures in Australia that will kill you. It is not just snakes that are lethal but spiders, too. And Duck-Billed Platypuses. It seems that those little bundles of fun have venomous spines. 

Of course they do. They are Australian!

Naturally I asked the indigenous people why they lived there. They told me that they had no choice – it was the 'flaming Brits' that dumped them there.

I have, over the years, spent some time in Africa. There are animals, snakes, bugs and germs that will do you lots of harm. It is not just venom there but also sicknesses like Malaria and Trypanosoma – sometimes referred to as Sleeping Sickness where the ‘sleep’ is actually being dead!

Oman and Yemen where there is heat and, in Yemen particularly, extraordinarily high levels of humidity. And sand. They have lots and lots of sand. It is everywhere.

Speaking of sand, I went to Sudan and Mauritania. Sudan is on the East side of North Africa where the sand is course. It is very much like tiny pieces of broken glass. Sudan also has plants with spines on that are a couple of inches long and made out of hardened steel. Driving across the desert from Khartoum to Port Sudan requires a couple of trucks laden with spare tyres and even then it will not be enough!

The sand in Mauretania is fine like dust. If you pick up a handful and then drop it, it will float to the ground and leave your hand stained with the residue. The wind, especially the Sirocco, will pick it up into the air where it forms layers – like mist. 

Because Mauretania is on the West side of North Africa the wind blows the dust across the Atlantic to Brazil where it fertilises the rain forest there.

Sudan and Mauretania have sand in abundance. Mauretania also has vast quantities of fish that are flown off to China from the huge fish market on the beach near Nouakchott. Nothing else.

Now I live in Malaysia where we only have a few snakes and a few mosquitoes to worry us. Malaria has been wiped out in the urban areas but dengue fever is still a worry; my friend’s daughter has just contracted it so we are deeply concerned right now.

We also have, here in Malaysia, television. I was watching an episode of ‘Young Sheldon’ for some inexplicable reason; it was the episode where he and his family cowered in the bathroom from a tornado. 

Tornadoes, it is well known, occur in specific areas of the United States. Rather like hurricanes. It is generally known where tornadoes and hurricanes are likely to appear.

The Caribbean Islands, the Gulf of Mexico and Florida in particular, are known to attract hurricanes due to their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, which is where hurricanes pick up their energy.

Canada. Canada the White. Well, not in summer, perhaps, but in winter Canada is well known for being buried under masses of snow. Alaska, too. Alaska is white.

Snow only exists at temperatures below zero degrees Centigrade. It is at this temperature that water becomes a solid. While I understand that snow is nice and soft and flaky made up, as it is, of tiny little six-pointed flat pieces, it is still solid water. It is cold. And heavy. We aviation people know that snow, and its friend, ice, is heavy because we have to get tons of it off aeroplanes every winter.

On the other hand, our neighbours, Indonesia, are living in places that are surrounded by volcanoes! The residents of Hawaii are having a problem with one of theirs right now. Now they know how the Pompeians felt.

This is by no means an exhaustive survey of the World’s nasty places to be but it does serve to beg the question: “Why does anyone live there?”

Why?

Amazon

This is 'Bookstore Amazon' as opposed to 'River Amazon'!

Here, in Malaysia, we do not get some of the advantages from ‘Amazon’ that others enjoy.

We do not, for example, have the pleasure of purchasing ‘Kindle’ books. This is even to the point of not being able to ‘buy’ a ‘Kindle’ reader, which is, to be honest, a free download.

For some reason ‘Amazon’ has decided that the risk of piracy in Malaysia is too high to risk sending e-books here.

One wonders if the powers-that-be at ‘Amazon’ have not considered that someone might visit UK or the USA with their tablet, download an e-book while they are there and return to Malaysia with it.

What, then, would be the difference between buying a ‘Kindle’ publication here and buying it elsewhere?

On my old computer I had a ‘Kindle’ reader along with several e-books that were purchased here in Malaysia. This inability to buy them now is a relatively new decision.

What is it that has turned the tables?

We are also confused by the ability of other ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) to buy from ‘Amazon’ but not Malaysia.

Are Malaysians really so wicked? Is piracy really so great here that we cannot be trusted with e-books?

Some years ago I learnt that my book, ‘A Simple Guide To Understanding Jet Engines’ (ASGTUJE), had been pirated.

In Poland.

This guy was selling photocopied versions of it. The quality was not so good, you understand, but it seemed to be selling.

Poland. Not Malaysia.

We decided that the answer to this was to ignore it. Let him put rice on his table if he was so desperate, by selling my handiwork. We should regard it as marketing. People might buy his product and then decide to purchase the real thing in search of (much) higher quality.

The problem arises in that this book was written with students who have English as a Second Language (ESL) in mind. Many of them live here in Malaysia – where they cannot buy the electronic version*.

Fortunately there is now a platform here called e-Sentral where e-books can be published. The publisher seems to be formatting ASGTUJE into a form that e-Sentral will accept.

ASGTUJE E-Book

Perhaps, in time, Malaysians will also be able to access other e-book titles from e-Sentral that they cannot read from ‘Amazon’.

This would be ‘Amazon’s’ loss. Perhaps they will not notice given their vast Worldwide coverage and sales.

*NB: For those who live in Malaysia there are still a number of physical ASGTUJE books available.

The Publisher tells me that a discount is available for Colleges and bona fide students of aviation subjects.

SGTUJE Physical Book

Available everywhere at RM81 + Post & Packing

How To Become An Aircraft Engineer

“Once upon a time I cuddent even spel engineer – now I is one!”

This is an old joke but it is a reflection on how those who are not engineers, or in the engineering field, tend to see those who are mechanics, technicians and engineers.

Engineering is an honourable profession that dates back thousands of years. The people who built Stonehenge used engineering principles to shift massive lumps of rock. 

Those who choose to repair, service and maintain aeroplanes are somewhat younger in the tooth since he evolution of the heavier than air craft only started at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Air travel is now normal. It is something that is regularly undertaken by vast numbers of the general public on a regular and frequent basis to the point where it is considered commonplace.

Every single one of those aircraft has to be looked after by a dedicated team of people whose task is both complex and rewarding. The rewards are primarily in knowing that the aeroplane that you just maintained has arrived safely at its destination with all souls on board sill attached to their respective bodies.

How do you become of those boys and girls who send these great aluminium cylinders up into the air?

Firstly we have to look at ourselves.

Do we fit the bill? Do we have what it takes to become an aircraft mechanic or engineer?

[Note: In the US under the FAA an aircraft worker is called a mechanic. In Europe under EASA and other places where they use similar licensing the worker is known as an aircraft engineer. The job is, more or less, the same it is only the title that is different.]

You will require to have a logical mind, common sense and self discipline. Those are the basic needs or anyone who works on aircraft.

The self discipline comes from not just being able to work unsupervised but also, more importantly, the need to focus on the job so that it is done properly, effectively and safely regardless of the conditions surrounding you.

Conditions? The aeroplane does not care if you have just worked eighteen hours or that it is minus some-odd degrees or that your life partner is miffed with you. The aeroplane only cares that you have tended to it in the best way humanly possible so that it is safe for someone else to become airborne in it.

No you have decided that this is what you want above all else you may now proceed to the next step.

There are several ways of getting into aviation. He easiest way, without doubt, is to join a military unit that has flying vehicles. This can be fixed wing aircraft like the C130 or rotary wing like a ‘Jolly Green Giant’.

Of course, your desire to go to war may conflict with your idea of self-preservation so perhaps an alternative might be useful.

The second easiest way is to go to a college that specialises in aviation engineering training for licensing.

I should point out here that there are many colleges and Universities that have courses designed to get you a degree in aviation engineering or the management thereof.

Previous experience has shown me that those who have degrees are far less likely to be employed – or even employable, than those who have an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Licence.

I receive a lot (a LOT!) of enquiries from people with a Bachelor’s degree in aviation engineering and engineering management asking me if I know of anyone taking on a highly educated but totally inexperienced degree holder. The answer is always, “No.”

Yes, yes, I know it is wonderful to boast about having a degree in this or that but it is even more wonderful to have a job!

There are any number of aviation engineering colleges dotted around the World. ‘Aviation Australia’ in Brisbane, Australia; Air Service Training in Perth, Scotland; National Aviation Academy in New England and Tampa Bay,Florida; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University at Daytona Beach and Prescott, Arizona; Singapore Aviation Academy, Changi; MIAT (Malaysian Institute of Aviation Training – part of University Kuala Lumpur) and Aero Precision Resources (APR) at Dengkil and Subang Perdana, Malaysia, respectively are just a few of those places where you can train to achieve your dream of obtaining your licence in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.

Admittedly, this is an expensive route for many. It is, however, the best and most efficient way to go about getting your license. 

It is not just the tuition fees that need to be considered, you will also need to look at (sometimes) accommodation charges plus food and transportation in the local area.

Next idea is to go and work for an aviation operator as a general helper on the aeroplanes. Many larger companies have schemes that will allow you to become a technician and, from that, to go on and obtain your license.

Although this seems like an ideal course of action the problem here is that there is an enormous amount of self-study to accomplish. This takes tremendous self-discipline to achieve. Very often you will need to combine some self-study with night classes or day-release at a local college or training school.

Before you decide on a course of action to develop your plan to become an aircraft engineer/mechanic you will need to make one more, vital, decision:

Mechanical or Electronic.

In the good old days of aviation there were Engine Fitters, Airframe Fitters, Electricians and Fairies.

During the Second World War the Radio Fitters would wander around the airfield with damn great loop aerials on their backs testing the aircraft radios in conjunction with a buddy who would be sitting in a cockpit out of the rain. These loop aerials looked like fairy wings and hence…

Nowadays we have Mechanical Fitters that are usually called B1 who cover Airframe, Engine and Electrics and B2 people who cover the electronics that, on aeroplanes, is called Avionics.

Which avenue will you explore? Are you happier with gearboxes and spanners or do you prefer small screwdrivers and transistors?

Ladies? Do not be frightened of doing heavy things. These days we have all sorts of cranes and slings to lift things. I have, recently, worked with several dainty young things who would, very likely, have no trouble gracing a magazine cover that are exceptionally enthusiastic about setting to with a big wrench on a helicopter rotorhead.

There is another, penultimate point to consider. 

You may think that competition for jobs is fierce – it is, no doubt. Also fierce is the competition between industries to attract the ‘right’ individuals.

For many people the Law, Medicine, Architecture or Business Management may seem like the way to go. Universities will plug these careers mercilessly because this is where the money lies for them. Indeed, the professions after University will also want to pick and choose the best for themselves.

You should be aware that if the Law, for example, want the best then they will encourage youngsters to take Law courses so that the Universities will pour out candidates for jobs in the hundreds – if not thousands. Law companies will take the very best and the rest are discarded.

This happens everywhere. Computing is one of the glamour jobs of the moment; there are many graduates who remain unemployed and so it is with other professions. Even people trying to become doctors or dentists are finding it ever more difficult to gain employment because there are so many young people leaving the Universities with Medical Degrees.

Pilots? Hard to get a job unless you have around 2,500 hours in your logbook and those better be on multi-engine aircraft. Where will you get hose hours? By hiring aircraft at weekends. Expensive.

Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is one of the few career paths that will almost certainly guarantee you a job. You may have to move to another country but here are employment opportunities available.

Why? Because the number of aircraft flying at any one time is increasing. The number of take-offs and landings per hour is increasing.

The industry has tried using bigger aircraft but the plan is failing. The Airbus A380 is a magnificent aircraft and it is extraordinarily comfortable but it is gradually being discarded. Airlines want smaller aeroplanes; with increasing passenger numbers that means more aeroplanes, more take-offs and landings and more maintenance.

That is where you come in.

To get you started on the right route, this book is to the knowledge level required for an Aircraft Engineer or Mechanic. From this you will see what is required. I recommend you to read it and encourage your friends to get it, too:

From Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/David-S.-Leyman/e/B00J8W00B0/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0