FourFans

This kind of weak equivocal language is at the heart of the our nation's communication problem. That's like saying it's safe to assume a rapist could do more to respect the rights of the woman he's actively raping. Or that Russia could do more to recognize the sanctity of international borders and human rights. Rape is Rape. An invasion is an invasion. Stop cowardice and have the balls to call spade a spade: Our country are being invaded through our southern border by a list of nationals and organizations so long we don't even know who they are. The administration who's PRIMARY JOB and who TOOK OATHS to "support and defend..." is actively supporting and empowering the invasion. How is that anywhere close to "could do more"?

PM Sent

I identify as as someone who thinks you're lying, therefore you're lying, and I'm hurt. Deeply, tragically, and pronounally. You should prostrate yourself, celebrate my victimhood, and buy us all a puppy.

...so...it was you... Great. Just great. Now I have to ask every CA I jumpseat with what their BO handle is. Fan-fucking-tastic.

UPS 6. RIP

Had a delta CA ask to see it, along with my medical, company ID, and ATP...when I was jumpseating on a 71. Then he asked why I wasn't in uniform.🙄

Besides, it's better style...

For posterity. F that B.

...for the first week or so...

This is all I can see: (for those not familiar with Top Gear. This is from BBC Top Gear)

I stand corrected. This is why I operate airplanes instead of creating energy policy.

It's call KERS...and it's been around for a minute: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_energy_recovery_system. It's rather heavy for the small payback you get though. Beyond that, they've proven that any wind-generation system loses more energy to drag than is recovered, otherwise you'd see them used in some form on every single 24-hour racer. Currently, the only energy semi-efficient way of powering a car on the move is solar...which is anything BUT cost efficient, therefore they're don't do it. However, the jury is still out on big-rigs, as they have the real estate on top of the trailer to house enough solar to be effective. The problem there is that users, not the trucking company, have to foot the bill for putting solar on their trailers. We're still exploring the benefits of aerodynamically streamlining big-rigs as it is, so any development will be sure to be slow.

quality save

Ah Fascism... ...any students of ACTUAL history here?

This is at the heart of my concern. Let's assume best case, and Ukraine restores it's borders and kicks Russia out. After that, they have to rebuild, which requires money. Their strongest habit over the past two decades has been to sell whatever they can to whomever will pay. Why do you think old USSR arms ended up all over Africa, SE Asia and SW Asia? Fast forward to them funding their reconstruction, regardless how much money is pumped in by the west, the national habit of international arms sales will come right back into full swing. Not looking forward to the likes of an Al-Shabab armed with Javelins and Stingers. These things move. Quickly. Imagine the headline of a South American nation having their federal agencies going against stingers and javelins. Likely? No. Possible? Definitely...and possible should be enough to move the needle...but I don't think it will be. Like I said: Real leadership is required. Strong leaders make for peaceful times that create weak men. Weak leaders make for hard times that create strong men. Take a guess where we are on that spectrum.

For posterity, I am on the side of arming the Ukrainians to defeat the Russians instead of fighting that with American or western European troops, but the world is never so perfect as to have a beautiful hollywood ending. Anyone wondering where this is going: watch Charlie Wilson's War, consider our experiences in Afghanistan, and then watch Send Me. I don't think it foreshadows what will come in Ukraine, but that sequence does show the outcomes of decision making that fails to analyze possible impacts of 2nd and 3rd order effects of our actions or in-actions. I'm sincerely hoping Ukraine comes out the other side of this as a free democratic nation allied to the West. Even if they do, if we think the weapons that are getting sent there right now WON'T at some point kill westerners, we're naive. If that's the cost of doing business, then so be it. Hopefully we at least acknowledge and prepare for that outcome. If ever we needed competent, courageous, and wise leaders to make tough and messy moral decisions, it's now.

Holy hell. This thread is what happens when graduated assistant-to-the-deputy group commanders are now 737 FOs and no longer have O-3 execs to pontificate at concerning their immense, hard earned, and expansively broad wisdom. Oh yeah, BrightNeptune: You should go home. You're drunk.

Brilliant scientist. Also a narcissistic d-bag who no one voted for yet somehow set national economic and social policy...as a medical expert... Good riddance.

...if this were a roll call...you'd have 10 pool balls in your face (no sts)...and I'd still be puking... There are standards and then there's ClearedHot... But then there are standards

🤮

I move that Random Guy be read-only or flat out blocked from this thread. As much as we want to hear about his timeshare opportunities and how we should invest in doge coin, this is about the Ukraine war and not his idiotic drivel.

Ah, yes. We all miss Rainman.

ever so slightly