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The bigger problem than media bias or even outright lies is that most people don't have the self awareness to notice that they're radicalized on one side of the aisle or the other. I tend to think about one's information diet just like a food diet. You should consume a balanced variety of information just like a healthy diet has a variety of meat, veggies, carbs etc... The difference is that at least a shitty food diet will let you know it sucks because you'll get fat. A bad information diet is far more insidious because there are no objective outward signs of radicalization until it's too late. The other piece is people whose entire existence and sense of self worth is tied up in political views. And just like food, politics should be consumed in moderation. But moderation isn't the behavior media companies want. Fox and CNN survive based on engagement, and they know that outrage and inflammatory stories drive engagement more than anything else. Do we really think we're going to get for-profit media companies tone down their rhetoric when they know it will cost them engagement numbers? Is McDonald's going to purposely make their fries less tasty so you don't want to eat them as much?

Hi all, In the past few years I have honoured to witness some excellent lowfly from the guys and gals of the USAF, and in turn they have recommend that I share some of the snaps with you here. Keep up the great work, and if you are ever in the position of planning a lowfly sortie in the UK and would like some high quality photos then drop me a DM and hopefully we can sort something out. Discretion assured, many thanks for looking, enjoy the photos.

A few random and/or cool things happened this week that I couldn't find where to post appropriately, so my intent on this thread is for those items that aren't "WTF," as that, to me, has a negative to shocking connotation and the items here are not that. It would be great if they were all uplifting, but one of mine is not going to be, unfortunately. Mods, apologies if these have places to be sorted and I missed it. 1. NASA flew a freakin' helicopter on Mars twice over the last week. 2. NASA via SpaceX flew a previously-owned rocket and ship to the ISS taking a four-man crew including the wife of the commander of the first SpaceX launch. 3. An Indonesian submarine sank on Thursday and is still unfound. Although likely having gone down below crush depth already, the crew runs out of oxygen tomorrow if they haven't. One of the top three ways I wouldn't want to die.

Well everyone's asking why they're offering such a shitty bonus, and the answer is because people are still taking it. Why would they raise it when they can keep it low and still have plenty of takers? Vote with your feet.

Any "renegotiation" will come with a longer commitment. For example in 2015 I took a 5 year $25k bonus. The next year I was offered a "renegotiation" option where the only option was up 20 YAS...which I flatly rejected. Weight all options heavily. When you are committed, you lose all power of "no". In the current environment, recognize that pilots are about to start abandoning ship again with airline hiring, leaving a massive hole in the population that is eligible for 180, 365, and non-desirable taskings to all AFSCs...and if you're committed, you have no say in the matter. Make sure that little 1990's level bonus is really worth it to you. If in doubt, don't take it and wait a year.

What I meant “from home station” —- your home unit will get you scheduled and out the door for the required training. It’s not lumped into the UCT syllabi. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For a nav you will be about 185 days. The actual training length is slightly less but you have about a week on either end to in/out-process. Chamber will be coordinated by your home station before you come. Expect C-Springs for the chamber, the Navy decommissioned theirs a few years ago. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just lower the standards until you get enough pilots. https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/04/27/the_air_force_is_about_to_lower_its_already_low_standards_774596.html

Water survival is not SERE. Still done at Fairchild. The Navy has an altitude chamber at Pensacola, but it's been 15 years since I went through the training, so I don't know if the Air Force still uses the Navy one or if they send you somewhere else.

I’m in a similar boat. ‘Volunteer-esque’ options arose that I could tailor my next 2 flying assignments (or 3 if I really min-run my tour lengths) to work in my favor; mind you, my personal priorities may not mirror everyone else’s. I also saw the Air Force’s stellar talent-management/COVID-flavored writing on the wall, and renegotiated the FY20 bonus in the last few weeks it was offered to work for my family and myself. I flat out tell the younger guys and gals whom I work with that if I was maybe 1, but definitely 2-3 year groups later, I would be making different choices, but this worked out so that I can bend it to my benefit.

Don't worry, I know lots of 11Rs not taking it..... ......what too soon?

And that is really the key. Showing the drama (in anything) is financially beneficial to whatever news outlet is displaying it. But, there is another component to this equation - the folks who consume their drama products... Not many people even understand the level of truth in what content they consume, we gravitate to the news that makes us feel good in our own beliefs - even if completely false. This whole thing feeds itself, and is nearly self-perpetuating. And just damn ugly to watch.

Signed it after working my next assignment. I also didn’t have the hours at the time to be competitive for anything other than a regional, and I couldn’t stomach that pay cut. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Props. Also, it reads like it could have been written this year given the lack of progress the AF has made on navigation...and the discussions of T-6 GPS problems, etc. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

17 years to the month later. Nice.

Thanks man! Ya that was a crazy closing scenario! Props to you for keeping your cool and working through all the crazy weather/logistical issues. We’ll always work our butts off for guys like you who have a great can do attitude! I laugh when people hunt around to save $15 a month or realtor says you need to use a “local lender” thinking that buying a home or getting a loan is some turn key event. Great customer service and working with people you can trust is critical when the going gets tough...title, lender, realtor alike. You definitely deserve that beautiful home! Enjoy living in base and the flying! I’m back to flying/commuting in Jun. Jon jk@mythl.com 850-377-1114

UCT isn’t a year. Depending on the airframe it can be 185 days or 285 days. Same goes for the FTU. You will have to go to the chamber and water survival before heading to UCT which is something like 4 days each (don’t know exactly). For Guard you will do that from home station. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In all fairness, pre-2016(ish) the AIM/AIP and other FAA information said what you remembered. But it all changed a few years back which is why we changed. Much to the chagrin of UPT instructors. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network mobile app

So they’re lazy AND they don’t care. Checks.

@BroncoEN remembering all the illegal direct-to-fixes he did

If you will excuse a mere former EWO, azimuth accuracy of Tacan is far greater than that of VOR due to the shorter wavelength of Tacan’s uhf signal and it’s 2x rotation speed of the bearing signal..

Yet doctors don’t have to fight for pro pay every year...

On behalf of Marty and everyone at Trident Home Loans we wanted to say thank you for promoting us around the AF! We don't spend a dime on advertising and everyone who has done business with us has helped Marty our owner rank as the #1 VA loan officer in the country for 2020 and even got me to #16. That being said Marty says if you're not first you're last...neither of us even knew they made 16th place ribbons In all seriousness though we really got our grass roots start on Baseops and it has just spread the old school way. These rankings just help us help all our clients leverage the best VA loan rates/pricing out of Wall Street and also give us some extra credibility when we call listing agents on your behalf! Thanks again and know we're always here for you! Cheers! Jon 850-377-1114 jk@mythl.com Application Link Rankings Source

For the 194th, June is their plan with visits possible in June or July

IIRC, the “renegotiations” I was offered the last two years required a 3 year minimum extension (I already took it to 20), and only affected the $ amount for the tacked on years. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well they do call it the "practice" of medicine and not science. The polio vaccine took over 30 years to be developed. Myself I have both shots of the Moderna , besides nausea when first taken I have had no other side affects since 25/03. The Lord willing and the river doesn't rise. With 23 years on active duty I also have a 4 page shot record to include anthrax and small pox.

21-02 WSO was 4x F-15 3x B-52 21-03 WSO was 2x F-15 2x B-52 1x B-1 Reserves 21-04 WSO was 4x F-15 3x B-52 1x B-1 Reserves 21-05 WSO was 4x F-15 2x B-52 2x B-1