FLEA

It's illegal in Germany to run your engine more than 3 minutes while parked. They take it super serious and I've been screamed at in grid lock traffic on the Autobahn where people stop their cars and get out, because it was the middle of July and I prefferred AC like a civilized human.

It isn't just COVID though. Momentum has been turning from Chinese manufacturing for years. Especially in the tech sector where companies like Apple began realizing that their IP was being handed to Chinese competitors by the CCP. The problem is the sunk cost fallacy. Many of these companies already built significant infrastructure in China. They need a business case to abandon it. COVID was a good motivator for that but it's not enough. The biggest hope we have though was the corporate response to the invasion of Ukraine. Noone expected the oil industry of all people, or several other large corporations like McDonalds, to take a moral stand and willfully leave Russia without sanctions requiring them to do so. Hence, we need to keep putting pressure out there. Because businesses do want out of China. But they need enough reason to do so.

The left wing media ranting about this is the most repugnant and latest example of NIMBYism yet.

Can you clarify on food? China is the world's largest grain producer. I have a hard time believing they would face a starvation scenario but I might not be seeing something. That said I agree with your overall premise that a Military invasion of Taiwan had more chances to fill against China than it does for it to succeed and that's exactly why they haven't done it yet.

Honestly, it appears this was a Lt's attempt to handle this at the bro level without escalating it. Sounds like there were allegations made that it happened but little substantiating proof. Lt then ordered the practice testing to see how widespread the problem was and as a way of keeping it in house and ensuring readiness. It wasn't until it was leaked on FB that it was because bribery was happening that higher command came in and said "hey this is serious, we need to get involved."

NDAA Draft SEC. 617. AIR FORCE RATED OFFICER RETENTION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. (a) Program Requirement.--The Secretary shall establish and carry out within the Department of the Air Force a demonstration program to assess and improve retention on active duty in the Air Force of rated officers described in subsection (b). (b) Rated Officers Described.--Rated officers described in this subsection are rated officers serving on active duty in the Air Force, excluding rated officers with a reserve appointment in the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve-- (1) whose continued service on active duty would be in the best interest of the Department of the Air Force, as determined by the Secretary; and (2) who have not more than three years and not less than one year remaining on an active duty service obligation under section 653 of title 10, United States Code. (c) Written Agreement.-- (1) In general.--Under the demonstration program required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall offer retention incentives under subsection (d) to a rated officer described in subsection (b) who executes a written agreement to remain on active duty in a regular component of the Air Force for not less than four years after the completion of the active duty service obligation of the officer under section 653 of title 10, United States Code. (2) Exception.--If the Secretary of the Air Force determines that an assignment previously guaranteed under subsection (d)(1) to a rated officer described in subsection (b) cannot be fulfilled, the agreement of the officer under paragraph (1) to remain on active duty shall expire not later than one year after that determination. (d) Retention Incentives.-- (1) Guarantee of future assignment location.--Under the demonstration program required under subsection (a), the Secretary may offer to a rated officer described in subsection (b) a guarantee of future assignment locations based on the preference of the officer. (2) Aviation bonus.--Under the demonstration program required under subsection (a), notwithstanding section 334(c) of title 37, United States Code, the Secretary may pay to a rated officer described in subsection (b) an aviation bonus not to exceed an average annual amount of $50,000 (subject to paragraph (3)(B)). (3) Combination of incentives.--The Secretary may offer to a rated officer described in subsection (b) a combination of incentives under paragraphs (1) and (2). (4) Variations; limitations.--The Secretary may vary or limit the total number of available contracts and the combination of incentives within such contracts to target certain Air Force specialty codes, ensure required assignments locations are filled, and readiness is not negatively affected. The Secretary shall determine the criteria for such variations or limitations and include such criteria in the annual briefing under subsection (e). (e) Annual Briefing.--Not later than December 31, 2023, and annually thereafter until the termination of the demonstration program required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing describing the use of such demonstration program and its effects on the retention on active duty in the Air Force of rated officers described in subsection (b). (f) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Rated officer.--The term ``rated officer'' means an officer specified in section 9253 of title 10, United States Code. (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Air Force. (g) Termination.--This section shall terminate on December 31, 2028.

Yo this dude is a legendary internet troll. I bet his BO.net name is General Chang.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-navy/2022/07/22/sky-dong-walked-so-queen-drawing-british-pilots-could-run/?fbclid=IwAR1qwrSj5jPFQJXvVBiM8nhIUIW1yt2fHkeBs7yG32ahZUHQ4WGi05l0Oos

How long until they sell out then?

I went as an MQ-9 guy before going back to manned. Its not all bad. Rotary dudes have to do it as well and they similarly give 0 fucks; and there will be a handful of CAF guys that will join you in self-induced vomit as the mass of MAF guys nerd out about TERPS stuff. But if you're interested in the future of aviation there is a fair amount of discussion on next generation navigation technology as well. That said, the course is overall a good time. You can network with bros, night outs were fun and OKC is a nice area to visit. I think its on Tinker now which super blows but when I went most people stayed at the Embassy Suites and we would always pre game during the Embassy happy hour before doing something more fun.

Don't forget this one as well: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_baseball_shooting

Fucking legend.

That really was a phenomenal post. Someone needs to dig this dude up again and buy him beers.

Honestly I'm not sure how this isn't getting highlighted on the amn/nco/snco Facebook page more. BTW, I used to be heavily critical of the usefulness of that page, but I've recognized in the last year, whoever is running it has SIGNIFICANT access to congress. When you can read between the lines on what bills are going up for decision with what stories they request info about it becomes clear they are a data feeder to someone's office for inside information about the AF and DoD.

$20K /yr per client to provide a cleaning service to homes that also services the homeowner. Sounds like this woman is well qualified as an entrepreneur.

The way RPAs are kicking Russia's ass, i really hope leadership is paying attention. You're right it doesn't have to be a -9 but these are dudes with highly developed tactical minds that can problem solve quite effectively.

Not sure I really care. I'm not a UK or German citizen and their fascist speech practices, which have been known to send people for prison for shit as stupid as saying Angela Merkel is fat, is not something I really want in the US. You might think Europe is a utopia of liberal ideology but I'd encourage you to live here for a bit. Because it is overtly one of the most racist, xenophobic and misogynists' societies I've ever experienced.

11:15 "The argument to be made is the airline is there to service the financial operate and not the other way around" Holy shit boyz.... the self licking ice cream cone shoe clerks took over the airlines..... where will we have to go?

Bro you arent going to find many sympathizer here. The democrats changed the rules for civility, not the other way around. Once they normalized threats, riots, police attacks, sequestering government buildings, burning cars, etc.... harassments, even sexual in nature, became completely fair game. You may not like it, but that's what our civilization has become. If AOC feels "uncomfortable" than she can step down. But I recall her saying that protest should make people feel "uncomfortable." Edit: to clarify, I don't personally condone any of this. However, it has become the reality of the US, that political supremacy is now earned through civil unrest and civil disobedience, not through civil discourse.

Are you currently a firefighter? I really can't believe you would be denied a security clearance if you passed your agency's background check because most LEO/FF background investigations are way more in depth and detailed than a SSBI. Unfortunately your options may be limited though. As mentioned above, once denied once, a company will just see that as a financial risk that you will be denied again. I believe you can also petition a FOIA request for the reason your clearance was denied if you submit one. If this is majorly important to you, you may start there, and then consider a clearance lawyer to litigate the governments adjudication. But youre talking a long road there. If you simply want to live oversees maybe consider something not US government affiliated. Maybe not many firefighting jobs but you'd be surprised at how you can apply that skillet to other fields. Expat businesses are always hurting for talent.

Curious, do you get your own ATIS still?

The Intel officers need to resign. These are largely people that had no access to evidence or data that would allow them to make any conjecture on the authenticity of the laptop yet they still thought they could use their proffessional titles to falsely influence the public discourse. You're squadron Intel officer is an "Intel proffessional" but should h/she be commenting with their politically biased opinion of current events at a national public level? Rather.... This was 50 left leaning people who worked in the IC and decided to take it upon themselves to release a letter of something they knew nothing about to try and persuade national opinion. It's absolutely disgraceful.

BOOM!

Had to look it up. Didn't know it had a different release title in the US. Here's the theatrical trailer if anyone is interested.

I think most Americans should watch the German period drama "Our Mothers and Our Fathers." Is a German perspective of WW2 and the Nazi rise to power. Sort of gives insights that painting every German as absolute evil in 1942 is a very broad brush. Many had no idea what was actually happening at concentration camps until the end of the war, many believed they were just fulfilling patriotic duty. Many believed Jewish treatment was abhorrent but the political system was still in tact enough to reverse it. It's not an apologetic piece by any means. But it's a really good sense of the slow and methodical numbing approach the Nazi party used to change society into such a horrific machine and some of the awful choices faced. One of the more interesting parts is when one character only recognizes the awfulness of what's happening after he's already been deep enough to become complicit in it and the mental turmoil it causes him until the final episode. Point is, it's a good perspective for Americans because we have this complex that this is something that could never happen to us, that it would be impossible. The reality is, Hittler was an overwhelmingly popular elected leader to start and a decade later he completely turned his country into one of the most evil empires in history. We are always a breath away from losing our democracy/humanity/values/culture unless we are vigilant about protecting it.