FourFans

I find it interesting how few people recognize the asian situation from the asian perspective. Japan, Korea, the PI, Thailand, Vietnam ALL have a LOT more options than US or no US. They can just as easily comply and submit to the Chinese by way of not interfering with Chinese expansion. For an extreme example: Imagine what would happen if Japan decided that the US can't use offensive forces from Okinawa anymore. Yes, that's an extreme example that IMO will NOT happen, but options like that do exist for all these countries. Consider what would happen if the PI came to it's own agreement with the Chinese where they simply refuse US basing rights in particular places for mild territory concessions by China. All these countries have their own agendas, and they all view 'sovereignty' in a very different way than we do. The list of these kinds of 'what ifs' is endless. In general, if they observe the US taking steps away from treaties, agreements or promises made in other places, their confidence in our will to come to their aid could degrade, driving them to seek other options to secure their own interests. It's very dynamic and every single one of these countries has their own interest in mind, and being allied with the US is far from being a catch-all solution from their perspective.

...and that analysis is the standard by which second and third order effects are ignored. One small example: What happens with our relationship with Japan, S Korea, or the Philippines if we walk away from NATO? Will they willingly lay it down for us against China if they know we've become transactional with our loyalty? If we aren't loyal to our promises, what possible incentive do they have to oppose Chinese expansion?

Anyone here qual'd on the 73 able to say if it's supposed to rest nose down after a gear up? From watching that video a couple times, it looked like a VERY long touchdown and that the wings and elevator were definitely still flying when they departed the surface.

I'll bet that thing is about as stealthy as BQzip's mom on a friday night at AJ's.

We have an assumption problem here: ALL SERE instructors are mentally unstable. With that quantity known, we have serious violation of the crazy/hot matrix application.

The concern runs along the lines that when it comes to access: If you can think it, someone IS working out a way to do it. Having an often used access point, either by debit card or online log-in, provides a point of entry to someone with the savy to exploit it. I don't have to understand all the workings for them to still clean me out and introduce years of pain trying to restore accounts. Having witnessed friends go through identity theft, I'd rather not experience that. btw, there is no such thing as identity theft protection, just insurance that will help pay for the 6-18 month clean-up afterwards. Given the number of "surprise, we lost your personal information/account number/we were hacked/we didn't see that coming" events I've experienced and witnessed, the arguments of "that's not possible" or "they protect your account" holds zero weight for me. I have kept my USAA, Fidelity, and Vanguard, and credit accounts distinctly separate. It's fairly easy. I'm most likely going with NFCU for that reason. I couldn't care less about having a brick and mortar place. It's about air-gap security for my accounts if you will. The convenience of Fidelity for banking intrigues me as you can get a solid rate of return on your cash accounts, though it sounds like I can have the same functionality with NFCU...minus the transitory high rate of return on my checking account of course.

I'm debating between Fidelity and Navy Fed. I like the idea of Fidelity, especially for youth accounts for my kids that can transform into their own accounts in a few years. But I really don't like the idea of being one debit card fraud away from my retirement and investment accounts being tapped as they'd all be linked to my account. Have heard good things about Navy Fed, but does anyone have feedback on their app functionality (beyond 'it's really great') and using/linking kids accounts? I don't need any loans, and getting loans pushed on me is an automatic turn off.

Whole new meaning to the Banzai call...or is it just a refreshed meaning?

"... inspired by figures of the Greek mitology..." is that kinda like Greek Mythology?

So you're saying you got your termination letter? Gunna be a sad day when "General Chang" gets promoted to "Mister Chang". Doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

Seriously. Let's really move some stuff. Shawn Ryan for Vet Affairs, Mike Rowe for Labor, Joe Rogan as Press Secretary (every briefing obviously labelled 'Explicit'), Ray Dalio to advise on China, Peter Ziehan to advise on econ and to fight with Dalio, and leave the rest as insider experts.

Lighten Up Francis. Actual footage of Uncle Joe teaching everyone how to stay out of prison.

On initial blush that looks like it belongs in the WTF category.

Thanks for the first person feedback fellas. I'm glad to hear Telsas are solid products! Sounds like you might have a win there Bashi. Got me looking into it now too.