brabus

95% effective at reducing/eliminating symptoms, but we have no idea if the vaccine stops transmission (we’re assuming no until proven otherwise). So honest question, why are we so concerned with 80% of people getting the shots - as you put it, let Darwin take its course. If people get their shots and are protected, then why do they care if their neighbor does? In theory you have the full vaccination and I sneeze in your face, you’re protected at a 95% rate...this point has even more efficacy if the vaccine doesn’t stop transmission (unknown currently).

Well for one people like MacKenzie Scott probably wouldn’t have donated $9B. Yeah there are some “filthy rich” people, but many of them donate shitloads of money, collectively provide millions of jobs, etc. They may be “selfish” in your eyes, but that doesn’t mean they’re not simultaneously contributing a substantial amount to our economy and way of life. Bottom line - not a zero sum game and we need those people far more than we don’t need them.

It will help as it further emphasizes you’re committed/have a passion for aviation, but don’t crush yourself with debt to make it happen (your current hours and ratings show you’re obviously committed to flying). I agree rushing in person is a great way to show who you are, as paper can only paint so much of the picture (in person is your opportunity to “fight” the impression that you’re too young/immature). Put the effort in as you clearly intend to do, but don’t get discouraged if it takes a little bit...you have plenty of time, and good things will come from patience and persistence.

Agree with Elvis - you have some solid stuff there, but while applying to units initially, go get a civ job. The most likely situation is you’re working civ for a couple years (while applying/interviewing for an ARC pilot job) before you get hired. It’s tough to hire a 20 yr old with no real world experience, but not saying it’s impossible. Don’t let this discourage you, you have some great qualifications; you’ll turn 22 with a couple years in post-college employment before you know it (and with exponentially higher chances of getting hired).

I did use it, and my soil is a decent amount of clay. Sounds like you would probably be fine with the same method if you have continuous flow (doesn’t take much to keep it full). To be clear, I did not do a pond liner, but I’ve been told that’s generally a good idea for smaller ponds and places with sandy soil (which my geographic area does have places that are sandy). I didn’t catch the first time that you were doing an acre (fuck lining that much!) During a couple month hot streak with no rain, the pond has lost about 1-1.5 ft of depth, but it filled up quickly after a few days of heavy rain. My continuous flow is a spring, with extra flow during spring melt and heavy rains.

Already exists with several more on the way (F-35). Unless you’re taking specifically within AFGSC, then I’ll defer on that.

Until you sign paperwork accepting your AD rated slot (via OTS), you’re not obligated to shit. Maybe it’s even after that point, but not before (I do know you can turn down an OTS slot if you don’t like the AFSC offered). So do what you want, but I wouldn’t have an issue telling that recruiter you’ve seen the light and are all in for AD (while continuing to apply for guard units). Take the first rated offer that comes your way. Your recruiter sounds like he’s being lazy, like a lot of recruiters.

I think he’s still right about a large chunk of the officer pool. You even qualify as an O-5 if you don’t have a nice side hustle/your wife isn’t pulling in a decent pay check.

There are a ton of charities out there. Recommend checking out charitynavigator.org. It rates a ton of charities from all corners of the “market” and gives you a look behind the curtain on their ops (me personally: if more than 15% of my dollar goes to paychecks, you’re off the list). Even if you’re not religious, churches are a good avenue to learn about local stuff like food banks, shelters, etc. (you don’t have to give directly to a church).

Assholes are everywhere, but they don’t define 90% of us. The unfortunate part is so many of the 90% have forgotten that and have determined if you don’t see something exactly their way/challenge their opinion (and by extension their political team), you are the enemy and “on the other side.” It’s amazing how incredibly narrow minded people get when they fall to this and aggressively defend/argue their side’s talking points while completely ignoring any counterpoint presented. That’s not to say we should all have to agree to be “a good society,” but the vitriol hate “for the other side” is crushing us, and we’re all letting it every time we do as the media/some dipshit congressman says, or in conversation completely ignore someone’s words because we’re too busy developing our counterattack to actually listen to/read what someone else has presented. My hope for this next year is the people wake up and realize we don’t have to let ourselves play this bullshit game anymore. They actually have no power over us if we just say, “yeah go fuck yourself” and be cool with each other, even when we disagree.

Well for starters a lot of common ANA are in it for the money and will run at the first inkling of a fight. Clearly this guy is not like that. Of course, there are ANA dudes who are just as deserving as this guy to be pulled out of that shithole. I hope it works out for him and others like him.

All of that varies greatly by state. Typically it is harder to finance land than a house; you’ll either have a high rate, will have to put down a significant amount, or likely both. The best way (in my opinion) is find land you want, then buy it/start build immediately with a construction loan - construction finished = wrap it all up into a traditional loan. As always, paying cash is the easiest way. If you go just land (with intent to build in the future), then definitely get a geological survey done and make sure you can build a septic (does soil support a septic, and which kind...leech field or mound system)? What about a well (what is the water table depth? More depth = more $...estimated flow rate?), can you run power to the site, is a road/driveway already in or will you have to factor that excavation into the budget, etc. With all these things, check local ordinances, zoning, etc. to ensure what you want (or can live with) is within the local laws. Worst thing is you get emotionally attached to beautiful land, only to realize after signing the papers you can’t put a septic on it, or the driveway is going to cost $100k because of significant blasting required. Doing your homework will save a lot of headaches, and said homework will take your time and some money (surveyor, geologist, etc.)

Google/YouTube...seriously. Guess it depends specifically on what you’re after, as “homesteading” is a very broad term that can mean a lot of things to different people.

Not super competitive for fighters from what you’ve posted here, but your cover letter and resume could possibly make it up (job history/performance, sports, etc?) A visit (or two) in person could also push your name onto the interview list as well.

Talk to people in your area, as the composition of the soil is going to matter. Pond liner is a good idea, and make sure you have a good plan for the spillway/outflow. Our pond uses schedule 80 PVC (the green pipe); no spill way, just a horizontal pipe running through an embankment and out to a creek. Have a plan for how you will cap that horizontal pipe, considering future access for draining or repairs (I fucked that one away and 85% of my pond drained undesirably this summer...I blame the beaver, who got what was coming to him...) Do you have a good source of water (spring, creek, etc.) and is it continuous flow or seasonal? Depth matters depending on climate, will you stock with fish, etc.

If there’s a hiring board announced, contact the POC to set up a visit. If there’s not a current hiring board in the works, then try contacting the unit recruiter and setting up a visit through them. That said, I imagine visits are still a no-go currently at most squadrons.

As a self-sufficient man who lives semi-rural, I’ll say while this statement does certainly describe probably a lot of helpless men nowadays, I do think there are plenty of dudes who live in suburbia/the city who, if forced into the position, could easily learn many of the things you and I do on a normal basis. It’s not necessarily hard to run chainsaws and log your own property, drive a tractor, hunt/garden, or do basic home repairs, you just need somebody to teach you/offer helpful tips. My optimism says more people would be in the teachable group than the totally fucked group.

Man, you guys are ridiculous. “Because I’ve never personally seen X” is an incredibly stupid way to make a case. This thread (and elsewhere) is full of this bullshit notion; how about you guys acknowledge a shitload of things exist, occur, etc. in ways you haven’t personally experienced because such a thing would be impossible, as you haven’t lived in every square inch of the world, the U.S., etc. Directly to your specific point on this subject, here’s a decent overview: https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/voter-id.aspx My personal experience - I’ve voted in three states that don’t require a photo ID. In one of those states there is literally nothing done beyond verifying the name I stated is on the registered voter list (checked at the time by the volunteer sitting at the check in table). Yeah, it happened...in the last 3 elections I’ve voted in (local/state and federal). Parting shot to emphasize the point - do you disbelieve one of your airman’s claims of rape because you’ve never experienced it or seen it happen first hand? Yeah, that’s exactly how stupid your above comment comes off. And even worse, you’re not the only one in this camp.

I was using the presidential as a leading example, I’m well aware of the voting cycle for lower level elections. The big problem is all of these “what about...” questions are not valid arguments against ID, but I do agree they are considerations to be taken into account when developing voter requirements. My best initial hack on absentee is signature verification, and I think for now that is sufficient (yeah signatures can be forged, but it’s a very unlikely situation).

All great questions/ideas - let’s act on this instead of accepting the status quo.

To the ID discussion: All 50 states should require a government issued, picture ID to vote (DL, general state ID, Concealed Weapons Permit, etc.) If we started this today, everyone who doesn’t currently possess an ID has 3.5 years to get one prior to voting in 2024. Hell, even allow 14 yr olds to get state IDs that don’t expire for 5 years, then they’re not prevented from voting on their 18th birthday if they don’t get a DL from 16-18 yr old. If a person, regardless of their life situation, can’t make that happen, then they simply don’t care/put much importance on voting. When voting, you should have to show this ID and be checked against the registered voter list. Only 6 states currently meet this. I shouldn’t be able to vote simply by walking up to the table and telling you my name and address, with no photo ID (as you currently can do in 30 states + DC). Absentee voting still requires the same things except you obviously can’t show the ID in person, so at min require signature verification (compare gov ID signature with affidavit signature).

Well you guys took my simple statement about voter ID and ran 90 left off the tracks. I don’t think trump won, nor did I even remotely argue there was enough fraud to change the course of the election; you just made wild assumptions based off me arguing we should have voter ID requirements. Get this train back on the tracks - what is a legitimate reason for skipping voter ID, yet requiring it for many other things (arguably less important than voting)? I honestly can’t think of a single one. I guess it’s also totally not a big deal when finance fucks up $15k of your pay for 1.5 years or a violent offender is released from prison and kills someone a week later. Yeah, no point in trying to make the process better, let’s just let it ride. Too much effort otherwise. God I hope this shitty attitude is just your internet persona and not what you actually practice in real life. I’m not sure you even graduated college, let’s see that proof big shot. Unbelievable dude.

You know what actually surprises me, that there are dudes on here who apparently don’t see shit like this as a big deal. To the extent they either ignore it, or are incredulous to the fact it happens. To that point, you and others actually are trying to argue a well educated adult who has voted in many elections doesn’t know the difference between a ballot app vs. sample ballot vs. actual ballot. It’s laughable and sad at the same time, but enjoy keeping that cranium buried deep in the sand.

Ballots....like I could have filled in bubbles for candidates, etc. Have shredded all of them. Asinine this shit happens, and way too often.

I was just poking fun at the ID thing - it was half a joke (I don’t take Parler or any social media seriously), but on a serious note... Colorado is a great example of a shit show. I haven’t been a resident or legal voter of that state for 7 years, and despite multiple emails to the SOS, I still receive ballots for every election. Haven’t had a CO license in the same amount of time. Same exact thing with Florida (but 4 years instead of 7). I could have voted three times this election - that’s ridiculous. Good thing I’m honest, but I guarantee a lot of people aren’t. Its simple - require a current state ID to vote in said state. Don’t have one, then you’re not voting; want to vote, than you can put the effort into getting an ID. That would go a long ways to further securing elections.