ViperMan

Yes, the hill we're climbing right now isn't as steep as it recently was. Cumulative inflation since 2019 (or March 2020) has been approximately 21-22%. This is an extreme historical anomaly. That's 5%+ per year, and it doesn't include certain sectors like housing. Which has undergone even more extreme inflation. The worst part is that we're not addressing the root cause - which is an out of control spending habit. Furthermore, even though the end product is the same, when you have higher inflation earlier in an inflationary period, the later inflation, even if it is lower, has a worse effect because the intermediate products are greater for a longer period of time. Recent years' inflation was over 9%. That's going to have a downstream affect. https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/ https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=1%2C000.00&year1=202003&year2=202403

It's fine for one guy to have decided in the government's favor. I don't lament that part of our system. And one rando deciding in the government's favor doesn't make it equal parts R and D responsibility. My problem is with the administrative philosophy that leads to such decisions being made in the first place. Personally, I don't know how the ULCCs have been able to operate for so many years. Honestly, if a business wants to sell itself to another business, I don't see how it's the government's business to stop it. This case seems similar to me as the government saying to an individual they can't sell their home to buyer X at price $Y even though they feel they can't afford the mortgage anymore. The government comes in and says no, you can't sell to party X for $Y...two months later, the business is going under (as predicted by said business), and lo and behold, it seems like the business will have to sell to multiple parties for less than $Y. I know you don't think that would be fair, and I don't see how that's a proper function for our government to play. The business isn't viable to begin with, so the legal reasoning the R judge used was bunk in the first place. And furthermore, you holding one random judge's viewpoint as an equal counter-weight to the entire executive branch's decision to pursue this case is a comically lopsided what-about-ish view of how the government works. That was my argument. Let's not wander too far. What about that argument do you find lacking? And if it's nothing, do you think the administration should face liability for damaging the financial prospects of the owners of that business? IMO the American public is not entitled to cheap airfare. I don't see how it's any of the government's business to regulate a non-necessity.

I did notice. I didn't understand the "but Republicans" refrain. Anyway.

Ok a Reagan judge decided the case. You do understand that it was Biden's administration that brought the case right? You understand one of the most basic features of our government and the separation of powers is that the judicial branch can't charge people? That they can't bring cases? That they can't actually direct the very power they wield?

Sounds like it's time to cut to me! Bruh, a pair of jeans at the BX now costs $50+. For Levis. So I'm glad you have 26% more dollars in your account, but will it buy 26% more? A "nice" shirt at the NEX costs $99 - for a Lucky flannel. $99. At the NEX. Here, read about this phenomenon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation

Interestingly, the most prominent "false balance" I can point to in modern times is the frame that ALL legacy media uses to discuss current politics. Donald Trump basically got half the vote, yet the presentation of his views as "extreme" belie that most fundamental truth. Casting his views as "extreme" is extreme false balance. Our media DOES NOT, and has not, seriously reckoned with the fact that HALF of all Americans are not on board with the crazy that is the current democratic establishment. I'm glad you're able to call out a few less-prominent democrats who say obviously dumb things. Next step: acknowledge that many, central democrat policies are having detrimental effects on our society WITHOUT a "but Trump is worse" chaser.

Is that new?

The difference on the board between R's and D's is that the R's are willing to call out and name their retards. The D's defend their retards and/or don't recognize that they're retarted. That's the difference on this board. It plays out on a larger scale as well.

Spirit and JB should be allowed to sue the shit out of the Biden regime.

All of this can be and is likely true. It's also true that a second Trump term will be far less damaging to the future of this country than another Biden term will be. So it doesn't matter - to the people voting for him, and to many on this board. You beating the drum about Trump being a real-estate fraudster is sort of nonsensical and childish. Why are you doing it? Do you think people who are voting for him GAF? People are choosing between the lesser of two evils as they see them. The hour is way past the point where caring even one iota about lying on a tax form is going to move the needle for most people in this election cycle. This complaint seems has an air to me similar to that of running to the teacher to tattle on your fellow classmates in 1st grade. Ms. Krabapple, he stole my lunch money!!

So if I was to retire with 20 years active and 8 months reserve, would my retirement be 20+8 months or just 20 years?

Her presence on the court is a tragedy and disgrace. It's shameful and embarrassing reading her dissents on Affirmative Action (SFA v Harvard) and the Dobbs rulings. Not because she's wrong or I disagree with her (and I do), but because in both cases, she makes no attempt to proffer any legal reasoning whatsoever, making an absolute mockery of her office. That said, she is fulfilling her actual purpose on the court. Twat status confirmed.

Question for the crowd. Does anyone know of opportunities that will allow you to collect your retirement, but also retain the ability to go on orders for short periods of time? Examples could look like: Part-time technician that could do things like sit alert from time to time. White jet instructor (DSG/ART) that can turn a few sorties a month at a UPT base. A "points" only gig like USAFA liaison officer - not sure if something like that would even qualify for USERRA. Why? To be able to collect basically the full retirement, keep flying military jets, and also retain full USERRA control over one's airline schedule when necessary. Just looking to the crowd to see if there's stuff out there I'm unaware of as I approach my date.

Does anybody know how "reserve" points count towards your retirement if you trip an AD retirement? Here's the situation, I will be tripping 20 years TAFMS, but will have 6-9 months of reserve time (drills, AFTPs, membership points, etc.). I know I'll qualify for the immediate pay check, but how does that added time - which doesn't "count" toward the 20 - play in? If at all?

It's run and designed by lawyers. That's why. Currently skimming a book titled "Bodyguard of lies" about the deception program during WWII to conceal the allies true plans for invading Europe. Book touches on how many people within the German war machine were intent on a coup and looked to gain allied assurances that they'd be treated favorably after the war. In the end, the US merely used them to validate and provide cover for the intelligence provided by ULTRA. The US resolved that the "outcome of the war would be determined by force of arms," not negotiation. Last time we "won" a war is when we decided that we weren't going to negotiate the outcome with the people who started it. Seems to have worked well for us. Doesn't seem like a strategy developed by someone who's primary field was studying laws.

Grabbed the wrong stick?

For those with time to kill, this is a banger. Wish I could have seen them at this level.

You think the generals are in charge? Hmm.

This line of reasoning / justification is retarded. Society imposes innumerable restrictions to prevent individuals from hurting themselves, and beyond that, there are numerous other safety nets to prevent people from damaging themselves in permanent ways due to mental issues because we have decided that human life has innate value...but I suppose you're comfortable with all the service-related suicides that occur each and every day? This decision entails certain consequences, among them, that you don't allow mentally damaged (healing) people to destroy themselves. Many (most) people who suffer from this ailment return to normal if given the time, space, and opportunity. That's why.

The whole "trans" issue breaks down along two lines. The first category is a mental (or emotional) disorder. In these cases, it doesn't matter what age you are. Less than 18, over 18, who gives a shit. If you are a person who actually perceives yourself to be a different sex than what you are, that is a mental issue of some form. Period. In this case, there is no circumstance in which "consent" can be obtained or given. So no surgery or other so-called form of treatment not specifically aimed to mitigate the mental component of the problem is appropriate. The second is a smaller category of people who are of sound mind but who derive some sort of sexual gratification from presenting or "transforming" themselves into a semblance of the opposite sex. If these people want to obtain genital plastic surgery, then yeah, sure, fine. More power to them.

This was, is, and should be seen as a propaganda victory for Hamas/Iran. This kid certainly had a few loose screws and I'm positive there were other warning signs that will become evident in the days that follow. Not sure what the fix is here. Maybe it's just an inevitable casualty in the new modern warfare we seem to be lurching towards.

What we were and what we have become is worse by almost every objective measure I can think of. Crime Social cohesion Life-span Cost of living Marriage rates Physical and mental health and so on and so on...we're not improving, we're getting worse. So the answer to the question "is the glass half full or half empty" depends on whether or not it's leaking or being filled up. We're half-empty. And yeah, to address your point, yes, our government is more racist now than at anytime in my entire life - more than 40 years.

A badass band. Lead singer was a previous AF dude. Don't know what he did offhand. Many of there songs deserve a listen at 11.

You're describing my career exactly. Previous 62E. Late-to-rate. F-16s for approaching 18 years now. NBD. I would say don't worry about becoming an asset to your unit. There's good pilots, ok pilots, shitty pilots, great pilots...you get the idea. Don't buy into the AF's idea that you need to go to UPT the day after you commission in order to be somebody, because it's not true now, nor was it ever. The AF's ideal model of career progression is obsolete to those who believe it is; so believe it's obsolete, and it will be. Get 4ucked with that staff-tour talk though...for realz.

Good thing you outsmarted him by not watching it then. So no one from "our side" should ever go figure out what the other side wants? By talking to them? By hearing what they have to say? Like, seriously Clark?