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Shack. However, I was referring to the things that will lead NCIS off onto bunny trails that aren't even imagined at present. A link to baseops with a NSFW thread and public mentions of BQZips' mom? Well, why don't we spread the wealth and let our OSI brethren share in this non-PC goodness? Looking at whatever in your search history? Must be something there for us to pursue. This is gonna be bumpy ride; buckle up.

Remember how local OSI went full retard over Mollygate? HQ-level NCIS' collective hard-on over pursuing this - 30,000 suspects--promotions and bigger budgets for all! - will make Viagra obsolete. So much collateral damage is going to occur that my liberal arts degree-trained mind boggles.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/03/05/im-never-reenlisting-marine-corps-rocked-by-nude-photo-scandal/?utm_term=.20b8e8846573 A couple of thoughts: 1. Trying to change young, hormonal, healthy men who you want to be very alpha in order to do their jobs is stupid. 2. This is why we can't have nice things. 3. Don't be stupid on the internet. 4. Lots of collateral damage impending.

not my photo Comparing apples to oranges to tangerines to cannons - one all-encompassing, bigly, yuuuge STS for the entire post - So she who must be obeyed (SWMBO) gets "headaches" everytime I ask her to go with me to the range to practice with her CCW J-frame - S&W Model 642 Airweight .38 special. In her defense, and as I've written previously, it is not a pleasant gun to shoot. For some real-world situation, I imagine you wouldn't notice it, but for practice, the recoil with the incredibly light revolver gets old quickly. I'm good after about 20 rounds. She doesn't even like to finish one cylinder. That does not make for great accuracy should it be necessary. Her rationale of utter reliability and simplicity of operation is sound, however, not practicing is not safe and she knows it. So, being the thoughtful husband that I am, I have talked with her regarding those ultra-reliable semi-automatics available and demonstrate such with my EDC XDS .45. I let her know I wouldn't let her carry a jam-o-matic, so let's see what we can find out. Using my collection, she was ok - dry-firing- with the S&W Chief's Special 9mm, the S&W 3913, and the M&P9c. She hasn't fired any of them yet. From my personal experience, I know that the Chief's Special is a snappy little bastard. The 3913 is a semi-collectable (it's out of production, parts are hard to source, and the value keeps going up a bit). The M&P9c is a great gun, but the small magazines make it too short for me to shoot comfortably. (Using the adapter and full-size magazines, I love shooting it). But I'm not the one that would be carrying/shooting it, so it's a player for her. Since she's out of town for a few weeks, I researched the M&P Shield in 9mm since it's nearly the same size as the 3913 and, as far as I can tell, as reliable as the M&P9c. Part of that research meant I had to buy one. Convenient excuse so I'm went for it. Went to the range this morning to side by side by side compare the Shield vs. the M&P9c vs. my XDS. The Shield is thinner both in slide and grip than my XDS. For my large hands, perhaps a bit too thin. Trigger finger wrapped past the first knuckle on the skinny trigger. Nothing that can't be overcome with training/practice, but that's the first impression. Shooting it, the trigger was "meh." Got better as I kept shooting, but this is a good candidate for the Apex trigger kit as I did for the M&P9c and full-size M&P9 that is my nightstand pistol. With the 8-round magazine, I could put all fingers and the heel of my palm on the pistol and it felt comfortable. Needs a bit more girth for me (I said, the STS has been accomplished!). The 7-rounder left my pinky dangling and not enough back pressure on the heel of my hand. I used 200 rounds of 115gr. FMJ. No issues whatsoever. I did not shoot any of my preferred Cor-Bon DTX hollow-point because I can't seem to find more. A factory order has been backordered for more than a month and retailers locally are out. Still, shooting this 9mm is a dang sight less snappy and uncomfortable than my .45 XDS with the 5-round magazine. Hence, I carry a 6+1 magazine and not the baby one. However, there is no disguising the 'grunt' factor of shooting the .45 in such a small package. As noted in a previous report, after 100 rounds, I'm more than ready to not shoot it anymore. I put the Truglo sights on the Shield and already had them on the 9c and the XDS. Very positive things to say about those sights - bright, big, easy to acquire. Overall, I like the Shield. I can see why it is wildly popular. Skinny, light, decent shooter. It fits all my XDS holsters including my car and truck-mounted ones. SWMBO returns in 10 days and will have her choice.

And THAT, gentlemen, is how you do a rant. Any questions? Right, carry on...

As opposed to crashes now? Germanwings, EgyptAir, et al are just some where the guy in the cockpit intentionally took paying passengers with him. Run of the mill crashes happen now as well despite having two guys in the cockpit now. Pretty sure the insurance premiums are hefty now. "Reduce" the human error rate, as those seeking automation are claiming, can only reduce those premiums as well. I'm not advocating for this, just acknowledging that it is happening and much research and time/money is being spent on making it happen. The interesting NASA study shows that our own Uncle Sam is opening his wallet to making it happen.

I am one of those that wants a meat servo (sts) up front to handle things when HAL can't. However: Around 20-ish years ago, the first RPAs were fielded. Not long before we hung ordnance on them after thinking "only good for surveillance." Less than 20 years ago, I was on the Air Staff working with the FAA trying to convince them to allow UAVs (as the term was then) in the NAS. Hit a near-brick wall. How many stateside bases fly RPAs now? How many other federal, state, and local agencies do as well? Generations before this comes to pass is a stretch, I think. If it's a cheaper ticket, a lot of folks won't care just as they haven't has air travel has become bus service. I'm not advocating for it, I just happen to think it's inevitable and I don't think The Man (whether in uniform or business suit) cares about the societal impact if his bottom line improves. Therefore, young 'uns might want to keep an eye, and their options, open is my only reason for posting. But if they can hack flying for Big Blue, they most likely will hack something else as well. But they won't be irreplaceable.

If they stick to the timeline in the article and actually have a autonomous passenger aircraft next summer, then that's where my bet would be. If you mean airliner; the latter, which I assume was your point. Mine is that this is happening and Moore's law is applicable.

https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2017-02-13/up-up-and-away-passenger-carrying-drone-to-fly-in-dubai To my flying friends, I wish you nothing but success in capitalizing on your training and skills. I think you are naïve if you don't think that every day very large, very rich interests are working diligently to replace you. Egged by the airlines who would like nothing better than to cut one of two of their biggest operating costs - labor (the other being fuel) - and pay the Bombay guy to run the LAS - ORD routing. Dispatchers becoming operational C2 is happening and there are far fewer of them to pay. DoD isn't just interested in this in order to not put a guy in harm's way. Cutting the payroll always is an attractive thing to staff warriors. Sure the link may be nothing but a stunt and as funny as Achmed facing a face full of sand milli-seconds prior to impact when HAL 9000 decides to reboot will be, it all starts somewhere.

Dear President Trump, It's now been three weeks and one day since you took your Oath of Office. I don't mean to be unkind, but we all expected you to have solved everything, everywhere by now. I mean your predecessor had already issued his first executive order to close Gitmo and would soon abandon the agreed-upon at some risk to themselves missile defense systems in the Czech Republic and Poland at the behest of Russian demands. Speaking of dang foreigners, you replacing the bust of Winston Churchill in the Oval Office during your first week in direct contrast to the last guy who removed that thing in the same time frame absolutely merits the Speaker of the British Parliament not wanting you to speak there. I mean, really, recognizing in a very public way "the special relationship" in direct opposition to the way that relationship was immediately telegraphed in 2009 is the height of ill manners. Your, perhaps, negotiating ploy of not calling the Russian president a psychotic publically would seem weak sauce compared to being caught on open mic with his creature Medvedev and "having more room to maneuver" in order to appease Putin. I am truly surprised you haven't sent your Secretary of State over with the whited-out reset (translated incorrectly) button. The guy's been sworn in for nearly a week. Time's awastin' it would seem to most of us. Please don't even think of establishing any red lines anywhere either. And while your predecessor had already made his plans for the first of his 'round the world apology tours denigrating the idea of American Exceptionalism and been brushing up on his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech for not being GWB, you seem to be fixated on trying, however inartfully, to follow through on some of your campaign promises. And please don't even think of resurrecting that Monroe Doctrine also publicly repudiated. Everyone gets to interfere now, right? Except you and America. You and she should lie back and think of England... I mean really, is stopping the flow of unvetted refugees from failed nation-states that have a history of trying to kill 'Muricans really something you should be bothering with now especially since the last guy did the exact same thing and for a longer period of time? Lena Dunham and Madonna have called you out. I respectfully recommend you "Giddy-up" on burnishing your talk show appearances and not waste your time or my tax dollars on cheaper F-35s, defunding locales that refuse to follow federal law, or such nonsense. You might upset some folks and that's not acceptable.

Good analogy. To continue it; the rich, oblivious families living in both wings of the house have ignored the spreading black mold in the walls. So much so, that the spores are causing sickness among the help - those that maintain the house and the grounds. Property values with the neighbors are declining because of the problems. Direct sunlight, perhaps even controlled burns, are often times good solutions.

Which is why I am enjoying the consternation being wrought on both sides of the aisle by the current occupant of the White House. I hope he shakes things up, shuts things down, and causes people to be fired and defeated at election time. (R) and (D).

*cough* Ben Rhodes *cough**cough*

Quals: - American citizen - seen a few Administrations - able to read/write/draw my own conclusions about politics, the political establishment, and recognize hypocrisy of whatever political bent. - sadly, the only pilot quals are all too seldom used FAA-issued PPL from some decades ago. Never much of a Heath Ledger/dark Batman genre. And I'd go with this for me over characterization. Since 'facts' are important to you, perhaps you can stick with those in your arguments versus personal attacks. I can play that and am not too shabby at it, but then we become liberals if we stay on that path. I do have standards after all. edited to remove superfluous personal achievement stuff.

It's curious how the past Administration received, largely, a pass here at Baseops due mainly to the auto-racisim charge that was leveled at dissent. Now that there's a white boy with a bad combover in the seat, it's game on. I am absolutely digging the amount of consternation and gnashing of teeth that this administration is causing on both sides of the political aisle. There have been comments in this thread about how even the GOP greybeards are aghast at Trump & Co. and their nascent methods of governing. The first, obvious question is "How well did those greybeards work out and improve our position at home and abroad?" Oxen are being gored and I am pleased.

If only the leaders during WWII had known what to do and been perfect. Never mind Douhet, Trenchard, et al. Even H.G. Wells. Nope, it was those selfish fighter guys. Who despite having their toys didn't instantly deploy long-range escort from August, 1942 on-ward. Nope, those long-range tanks should've instantly appeared. Remind me who led the fighter escort on the Enola Gay mission? And what was the leadership scheme for Big Blue from the end of WWII until well into Vietnam? And the roster of perfectly suited aircraft we had for the wars in Korea and Vietnam? USN submariners suffered, as a percentage, the greatest number of casualties during that war. I guess even dead guys need to have d1ck-measuring contests... *sorry-ish for being a d1ck in this post - working nights and am cranky. The point is there is always two-sides to history.

Yep, just like David Brooks, Jennifer Rubin, Nicole Wallace, Steve Schmidt, et al. "Highly respected" and "conservative" are not adjectives I would ascribe to Frum or the rest. They, collectively, remind of this guy: as they seek to curry favor with the MSM machine. As to your point of "carrying on Obama's policies," it appears you miss the point. When Barry did it, it never raised the slightest hackle for eight loooooong years. If Trump does it and only after three weeks, it is the End Times. Firing a disobedient acting AG? A dictator. Firing a four-star general who was quoted from off the record conversations and it's ensuring civilian control of the military. Must be nice...

Jeezuzzz, it's been two (2) weeks since the guy was sworn in. His staff isn't even in place yet via the Senate. And he's already undone some things that were done by his predecessor.* Not to mention the near open revolt of supposedly apolitical civil servants at State and EPA. I'm not happy with the GOP and the reported** backpedaling on immediate repeal of Obamacare, etc., but Jesus who was not an immigrant despite what the Rev Sharpton claims, it's been all of two weeks... * The attention whore can't help but try to stay in the spotlight. Instead of staying quiet like the tradition of ex-President's are supposed to be - nobody wants the peanut gallery complaining during their time, so they haven't done it - mostly - to the replacement guy. But this guy takes the narcissistic cake. Just f'in' go away already... **I LOVED the immediate firing of the acting AG yesterday.

That'd be a crazy Austrian. But I quibble...

Political leaders using the military as an instrument for political purposes on the world stage. Huh, who'da thought? Wasn't there some crazy German who wrote a long time ago something about war and politics?

Maybe pertinent to this idea. https://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2017/01/20/donald_trump_has_a_coherent_radical_foreign_policy_doctrine_112180.html

THAT is funny, I don't care who you are.

I think we are agreed that reading is fundamental and implying that I hadn't read the article isn't. If the transition team wanted to keep him on, but Big Green was pushing him out the door, who exactly is the action figure in this scenario? And if we get "it's all Trump's fault" on these forums (liberal or not, I don't know), just imagine what the wider world is going to say - at least 1/2 anyway and that percentage of unhappy campers contains most of the media so the effect will only be magnified. - to BFM - Yep, that's the one, thanks. edited to add: The Commander of the DC Guard, appointed by the President, traditionally offers his resignation to each new Commander in Chief who decides to decline or accept the resignation. This particular commander was appointed by George W. Bush in 2008. Thus he has been in the same position for eight years. The Trump team offered to keep the MG through January 20 with his retirement effective 21 January. The MG refused and decided to voluntarily leave effective 1201 EST, 20 Jan 17. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2017/01/fake-news-wapo-not-tell-whole-story-dc-national-guard-chiefs-resignation-video/ Nope, it's gotta be Trump's fault...

According to his Nat'l Guard GO bio: He entered service in 1979, so he is waaaay beyond the 35 year total military service law (unless waived by Congress as in Rickover); probably his Guard time played with that calculation. The TAG of the DC Guard, unlike states' Guard which are appointed by the respective governor, is appointed by the President of the United States who is currently, and was when this order was given, Barack H. Obama. The MG is also 65, again a mandatory military retirement age unless waived by Congressional action. Nope, it's Trump's fault. We're gonna see a lot of that, I reckon. There was a good column (forget the venue and writer) on how everything for the past eight years was Bush's fault, and from here on out everything is Trump's fault. It's as though the last Administration didn't exist. Sure must be nice...

Hmmm, Trump isn't in office yet and his SecDef isn't either yet he gets blamed for an action taken recently under the current Administration. THAT, my friends, is power.