FEATURE ARTICLES. LOOKING AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT: APPOINTING A NEW MEMBER, WHAT DOES THE CONSTITUTION SAY? PT 3.

"...and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate,shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law..."

This is the part of the U.S. CONSTITUTION THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS HOW FUTURE APPOINTEES FOR CERTAIN GOVERNMENT POSITIONS ARE TO BE NOMINATED, AND APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED, FOR SAID POSITIONS.

There is no NEED FOR CONTROVERSY. THIS IS A DIRECT AND UNCOMPLICATED GUIDELINE, EXPLAINING HOW THE  PROCESS IS TO WORK. To Turn this into A POLITICAL DISCUSSION ABOUT WHICH TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL, WITH SPECIFIC BELIEFS, OPINIONS, AND A CERTAIN BACKGROUND SHOULD BE NOMINATED AND APPOINTED, MISSES THE POINT COMPLETELY. The Who and Why don't Matter.

ONLY THE HOW.

The President of United States has the POWER, OR RESPONSIBILITY TO SELECT A NOMINEE, And No One Else, because it is a FUNCTION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Once this Done, the PROCESS MOVES ON TO THE SECOND STEP.

THIS STEP, "...Advice and Consent of the Senate,...."  

Is Very Specific, and REFERS TO THE "SENATE" NOT AS A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL, OR A SELECT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS, BUT AS A "BODY." THIS MEANS NO ONE SENATOR, OR SENATORS, HAS THE POWER TO DISREGARD WHAT ARE CLEARLY WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS, WHICH OBLIGATE THE SENATE TO ACT AS ONE FOR "...ADVICE AND CONSENT..." 

FOR ANY SENATOR(S) TO SAY THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT OR POWER, TO PREVENT THE "BODY OF THE SENATE" FROM FULFILLING ITS CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY BY SAYING "WE JUST WON'T MEET TO CONSIDER THE NOMINATION," IS GIVING THEMSELVES A POWER THAT IS NON-EXISTENT, AND IS CLEARLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

QUICK HITTERS. WHAT REALITY T.V. HAS TAUGHT ME. PT 2.

-  That You can be a Truly Reprehensible Human Being, but still find Fans and Viewers willing to Watch You Behave like a Complete Egocentric Reprobate on a Regular Basis. (HOPING OR BELIEVING THAT THIS IS YOUR REAL PERSONALITY.)

-  That Many of Those Tuning In to Observe the Usual Antics

of REALITY T.V. STARS, will often go to Great Lengths to Find 

Excuses to Explain the Abominable Behavior Seen on the Screen.

This Sometimes Means saying Things Like:

"They're Just Keeping it Real."

"Don't Hate the Player."

and other such "ENLIGHTENING" PIECES OF DRIVEL.

However, it shows me that even though we have come far as a Species, 

both Intellectually and Socially, it is not nearly far enough.

It is Amazing How Some of us Demand Change and Justice for 

Victims, Yet Sit and Watch Other Human Beings Degrade and 

Debase Themselves and Each Other, and call it Entertainment.

That, in itself, is Troubling Enough.  But Then These "REALITY STARS"

are BROUGHT ON AS "GUESTS" ON POPULAR TALK SHOWS, AND

ASKED TO GIVE "ADVICE" TO VIEWERS.  I'm Sorry, but LIFE MUST 

HAVE TAKEN A WRONG TURN FOR YOU,  IF THIS IS WHERE YOU

SEEK "WISDOM."

WHAT A SHAME- A look at the low points in the modern media. THEY SAID...WHAT? ARE YOU SURE? PT 2.

When these Qualifying Words or Phrases are used, they are often meant to act as a "Get out of Jail Free Card." Why? Because, there is no Commitment to actually making any kind of Intellectual Prediction or Conclusion that is backed up by Logic and Critical Thinking. If the Proposed Prediction or Outcome doesn't occur, they will claim no such Assurances or Guarantees were ever made.

However, if the opposite happens, and the Proposed Conclusion or Prediction comes to pass, you can be sure that these same People will be Bragging about how they Predicted the Outcome.  Suddenly, the Qualifying Terms and Phrases disappear from Subsequent Discussions about the given Topic or Subject.  Those who made such Predictions, and their supporters, no longer refer to anything that could imply an Outcome that wasn't Guaranteed. 

It is a Strategy that cannot fail, as long as those who realize that it is obvious Double Talk, do not point it out to other listeners who are unaware of these Deceptive Tactics. 

2)  LOOK FOR WORDS OR PHRASES BEING USED AS EMOTIONAL TRIGGERS.

This is a Category Where Different Parts of Speech are used to Transmit an Opinion or Judgment About a Person, Group, Action or Behavior that is not Directly Apparent to those listening, but are Effective on a Sub- Conscious Level.

Examples;

-  "John Doe is a Candidate of the People, while Joe Schmoo is just another Politician."

-  "Acme Detergent is the Preferred Brand by Moms who care about Eliminating Germs and Bacteria."

-  " Elmos Hamburgers are different, prepared the 'Old Fashioned Way.'

-  "Bobs Plumbing has a 100% Money Back Guarantee, unlike those who will stick in Hidden Charges you are stuck paying for."

It is Human Psychology to have Immediate Emotional Responses to Certain Words that we hear. It may not even be realized by the individual at the time of Perception, but it is a Natural Occurrence that usually cannot be Controlled. However, it can be Understood.

SEE PT 3.

THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD. AMONG THE MISSING- PT 5. WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

When we look for an Explanation into the Crash and Loss of the STAR DUST, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT CAN BE ACCEPTED AS FACTUAL, EVEN WITH THE LIMITED INFORMATION WE HAVE.

-  THE FLIGHTS COURSE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THEM OVER THE ANDES 

MOUNTAINS.

-  TO FLY ABOVE THE MOUNTAINS, AND THE CLOUD COVER, THEY 

WOULD  HAVE CLIMBED TO 24,000 FEET.

-  UNFORTUNATELY, AT THIS ATTITUDE THE STAR DUST COULD HAVE ENTERED THE JET STREAM, WHICH MAY HAVE PRODUCED A SIGNIFICANT HEADWIND. THIS WOULD REDUCE THE AIRCRAFTS GROUND SPEED TO A MAJOR DEGREE.

-  IF THERE ARE NO VISUAL CUES DUE TO CLOUD COVER, THE CREW WOULD HAVE USED "DEAD- RECKONING NAVIGATION" TO ASCERTAIN THEIR POSITION.

IN THE SIMPLEST FORM THE CALCULATION WOULD LOOK LIKE THIS:

Distance = Speed x Time.

However, the AIR SPEED OF THE STAR DUST WOULD HAVE DIFFERED FROM THE GROUND SPEED, DUE TO THE AFFECTS OF THE JET STREAM.  THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A NAVIGATIONAL ERROR, IN WHICH THE CREW BELIEVED THAT THEY HAD TRAVELED A CERTAIN DISTANCE, WHEN IN FACT, THE ACTUAL MILES COVERED WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS. 

This leaves us with a possible solution as to the Cause of the Crash:

THE STAR DUST BEGAN ITS DESCENT INTO SANTIAGO, CHILE, BECAUSE THE CREW BELIEVED THEY HAD ALREADY CLEARED THE ANDES. HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT THE CASE, AND IT CRASHED INTO THE MT. TUPUNGATO GLACIER.

We must remember, that a Routine Radio Message was sent by Radio Operator Harmer, at 5:41pm, giving an estimated arrival Time of 5:45pm. This gives us a Reasonable Indication of where the Crew believed They were at the Time.  Other Evidence such as the RETRACTED WHEELS AND THE CONDITION OF THE PROPELLERS, POINTS TO THE STAR DUST OPERATING NORMALLY WHEN IT HIT THE GLACIER.  Over Time, along with the Natural Processes that Occur on the Glacier, the Wreckage Moved Down to the 15,000 ft level of MT. TUPUNGATO, WHERE IT WAS FOUND BY THE MOUNTAINEERS.

IN THE END, IT WAS A TRAGIC SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES, AND A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE AFFECTS OF THE JET STREAM ON AIR TRAVEL THAT LED TO THE CRASH.  FLYING THESE ROUTES WAS A RELATIVELY RECENT DEVELOPMENT, SO THERE WERE NOT A LARGE NUMBER OF AVIATORS WITH EXPERIENCE IN NAVIGATING THROUGH, AND AROUND THE ANDES.  

Over Time, Flight Data and Atmospheric Research resulted in Newer and More Accurate Information about Flying in the Jet Stream, but in the early years of Global Travel such Accidents were Inevitable.