Friday, February 13, 2009

Some random thoughts and reactions

A Dash 8 aircraft crashed on approach to a Buffalo, NY airport last night. Fatal crashes of this type of aircraft number three before this: Bangkok, New Zealand and a Lufthansa flight into Paris. It is only the second commercial fatal aviation crash in the US in the last eight years. The one before it was in Kentucky several years ago.

The internet is helping to keep reporters honest and glaringly shows them up when they make idiotic pronouncements to fill air time because someone has decided to go wall-to-wall with their coverage. A voluntary website records air to ground radio transmissions and the recordings immediately were posted to the internet, providing some viewers with the first indication that at least the voice on the radio was female. The hours claimed as having been flown by Colgan are in obvious error by the way. I have no idea why nobody checks these things.

There have been SO many stunningly obvious mis-statements of fact that I am disinclined to go into any more of them. To me it highlights the sad state of much of US journalism today. A few minutes into their broadcast, CBS had managed to cut to the 'reaction' of the new Prez to the death of one of the victims aboard. WHO CARES??

Of more than a little interest was the effort that Continental Airlines took to distance themself from their subsidiary. The aircraft has the Continental logo on the tail, the crew wear Continental uniforms and there are Continental magazines in the seatbacks, but their website allegedly (I did not see this) was quick to post a disclaimer. They did issue a press release offering sympathy and support for Colgan airways, which call sign was used by the co-pilot and which is the subsiduary of Continental involved.

In other news, congress has passed a bill numbering over a thousand pages which by their own admission they have not had time to read, and have reneged on their promise to post the bill on the internet, and are now anxious to get out of town.

9 comments:

NoWay said...

Do you think it is really due to filling air time or just the hurry to make a name for oneself? I would think that journalism is a cut-throat industry.
Regardless...50 people did not survive. Pretty sad.

GirlBlogger said...

I agree with your assessment about journalism as a whole. Th fact that no one has actually had time to read this damned bill is really burning me up. Thanks congress for bartering my future and not even taking the time to understand the terms of the barter.

greeneyes67 said...

Wow. I hadn't even heard that until just now. I haven't been watching TV. That is horrible.. Hope you have a good weekend Fin..

BenB said...

Hey, it's only, what 3/4's of a trillion dollars, why bother reading about what's going to be done with it?

Elin said...

Sounds really horrible . . .
Have a good day, Fin.

Fijufic said...

Fin,

I would like a travel story sometime next week Fin. I miss those installments.

Any more stories of the Pacific would be most appreciated...Love that stuff.

Actually, any stories posted here would be welcome.

Cheers buddy,
Bobby

Fin said...

OK Bobbz.

Maggsworld said...

I am with Bobby on the story, bringing to light happier thoughts in such a dismal climate. Anyways, I am sending summer back to you guys, soon. Maggs

John0 Juanderlust said...

Several elements of coverup by omission. In both the case of the crash and the economic rearrangement and theft bill.