The all things Poltical topic - We bear our banners aloft, boots like Drums Our Cadence quick, our countenance dire.

[Guard Dog]

31 minutes ago, Malcador said:

Somehow Cruz should be the last person complaining about emasculation.

The comments on the tweet were worth the price of admission!

[Malcador]

2 hours ago, Guard Dog said:

The comments on the tweet were worth the price of admission!

Yah, but I guess all for nought in the end. People Cruz is appealing to would like the ad to be a COD ad with dudes yelling "Oscar Mike" while some **** like Korn or Hatebreed blasts in the background

[ComradeYellow]

8 hours ago, Zoraptor said:

The MSN article originally linked is pretty rubbish. 

Yeah all mainstream Amero-centric media these days doesn't even attempt at accurate reporting anymore, it's like they're targeting the trashiest sectors of society (which is, admittedly, quite a lot!) because it suits their $Agenda$.

[HoonDing]

At least Cruz got a sense of humour.

[Raithe]

[Agiel]

If the country having a "masculine military" means being conscripted into a force that is cosmically corrupt, its equipment constantly facing readiness issues and modernisations deferred, and myself getting the stuffing beaten out of me on a daily basis, honestly, I think the US military is in an alright place.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Agiel

[ComradeYellow]

I just find it HILARIOUS that the east and west kinda switched roles from the 20th century.

I mean compare 1950's America to 1950's Soviet and CCP.  The former was patriarchal, blacks were living in apartheid, family units were the meat of society, racism and sexism was rampant.  The latter fought for womens rights, minority rights, more income equality, and a more just and fair society (albeit harshly and ineffectually but still).

Quite the turnaround honestly.

[Hurlshort]

I know Comrade is heading off to college, but I am going to recommend not pursuing a degree in history. 

[BruceVC]

9 minutes ago, Hurlsnot said:

I know Comrade is heading off to college, but I am going to recommend not pursuing a degree in history. 

I have to disagree but I think you joking but I am not. And I like Comrade so I hope he doesnt take this personally

I would recommend he does study history because he is confused and conflates events of history in an unparalleled way and this makes many of his suggestions and views almost incoherent and  difficult to take seriously 

So a course in history would only be good for him so he understands things like the history of his own country objectively and factually and then he will be more confidant to have debates and discuss societal changes based on some of  the lessons of history 

[Gromnir]

1 hour ago, Hurlsnot said:

I know Comrade is heading off to college, but I am going to recommend not pursuing a degree in history. 

ok, this is gonna sound like grumpy old guy pov, but this is an opinion we had since short after our matriculation. 

our advice for those considering university is as follows: don't. get a blue collar job, or join the military. especial as comrade is so enamored o' the cccp, then perhaps he should first get real experience as a worker and some part-time job doing pizza delivery or some such hardly counts.  contrary to myths, repair a few miles o' barbwire fence line in sub-zero temperatures o' a dakota or wyoming winter or dig irrigation trenches for rich people's homes in so cal or arizona during the summer don't build character. hard work won't make you a better person. will give perspective and chances are if you then do go to university after a couple years, you will have greater appreciation for the opportunity.

perhaps you is physical not cut out for physical toil? if you have the means, volunteer inner city food bank/homeless shelters. 

university ain't real. people condemn the safe place language linked to universities but universities should be safe for everything 'cept uncomfortable truths. am quite happy to have universities be a comfortable zone o' safety divorced from reality, but too many university students spend four years in fantasyland thinking they has learned the secrets o' the universe when fact is many such kids has never been in the real world.

so, our advice is as follows: get a job.

HA! Good Fun!

ps full disclosure: we did not get a job after high school and before going to university as we were an athletic scholarship student, but we had worked on a ranch for years and we had summer and winter jobs from time we were thirteen including blm wild horse roundup, roofing supply and ranch hand work from people who paid better than our grandparents. 

Edited May 22, 2021 by Gromnir

[Gorth]

Why do I always imagine Gromnir looking like Ricky Gervais?...

[BruceVC]

1 hour ago, Gromnir said:

ok, this is gonna sound like grumpy old guy pov, but this is an opinion we had since short after our matriculation. 

our advice for those considering university is as follows: don't. get a blue collar job, or join the military. especial as comrade is so enamored o' the cccp, then perhaps he should first get real experience as a worker and some part-time job doing pizza delivery or some such hardly counts.  contrary to myths, repair a few miles o' barbwire fence line in sub-zero temperatures o' a dakota or wyoming winter or dig irrigation trenches for rich people's homes in so cal or arizona during the summer don't build character. hard work won't make you a better person. will give perspective and chances are if you then do go to university after a couple years, you will have greater appreciation for the opportunity.

perhaps you is physical not cut out for physical toil? if you have the means, volunteer inner city food bank/homeless shelters. 

university ain't real. people condemn the safe place language linked to universities but universities should be safe for everything 'cept uncomfortable truths. am quite happy to have universities be a comfortable zone o' safety divorced from reality, but too many university students spend four years in fantasyland thinking they has learned the secrets o' the universe when fact is many such kids has never been in the real world.

so, our advice is as follows: get a job.

HA! Good Fun!

ps full disclosure: we did not get a job after high school and before going to university as we were an athletic scholarship student, but we had worked on a ranch for years and we had summer and winter jobs from time we were thirteen including blm wild horse roundup, roofing supply and ranch hand work from people who paid better than our grandparents. 

Gromnir this is a very thoughtful, sincere and honest post and I agree with almost all of it 

My 3 years at university did nothing for my life lessons that were coming, university is just suppose to be about getting a degree to work in a certain sector ...thats its primary purpose 

We must never forget or ignore the importance of gaining  life experience by working 

[Gromnir]

55 minutes ago, Gorth said:

Why do I always imagine Gromnir looking like Ricky Gervais?...

hmmm. over the past few years posting we may have indulged in a bit o' snark. maybe. 

HA! Good Fun!

[Agiel]

2 hours ago, Gromnir said:

ok, this is gonna sound like grumpy old guy pov, but this is an opinion we had since short after our matriculation. 

our advice for those considering university is as follows: don't. get a blue collar job, or join the military. especial as comrade is so enamored o' the cccp, then perhaps he should first get real experience as a worker and some part-time job doing pizza delivery or some such hardly counts.  contrary to myths, repair a few miles o' barbwire fence line in sub-zero temperatures o' a dakota or wyoming winter or dig irrigation trenches for rich people's homes in so cal or arizona during the summer don't build character. hard work won't make you a better person. will give perspective and chances are if you then do go to university after a couple years, you will have greater appreciation for the opportunity.

perhaps you is physical not cut out for physical toil? if you have the means, volunteer inner city food bank/homeless shelters. 

university ain't real. people condemn the safe place language linked to universities but universities should be safe for everything 'cept uncomfortable truths. am quite happy to have universities be a comfortable zone o' safety divorced from reality, but too many university students spend four years in fantasyland thinking they has learned the secrets o' the universe when fact is many such kids has never been in the real world.

so, our advice is as follows: get a job.

HA! Good Fun!

ps full disclosure: we did not get a job after high school and before going to university as we were an athletic scholarship student, but we had worked on a ranch for years and we had summer and winter jobs from time we were thirteen including blm wild horse roundup, roofing supply and ranch hand work from people who paid better than our grandparents. 

In the summer before I went off to college I started looking for a summer job, my parents hoping that the funds would go towards paying off the eventual student loan debt but actually went to a new graphics card. I got a job working for the night crew for the local supermarket. In spite of my high school career running cross-country and track my feet ached to the point that I couldn't have a lie-down fast enough once I clocked out, and I got the worst case of eczema on my hands in my life opening a ton of cardboard boxes. One family dinner I plaintively confessed to my parents that I couldn't imagine myself doing that line of work for the rest of my life, to which they simply told me that I should have an idea why they were constantly on my case about taking my studies seriously.

 

I suppose I ought to be thankful. After a brief stint working in a copy and print store after graduation to supplement my freelance income I managed to land a relatively cushy white-collar job, which was just as well since with the onset of the pandemic my position transitioned relatively painlessly to a work-from-home arrangement. 

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm a milquetoast softy.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Agiel

[ComradeYellow]

26 minutes ago, Agiel said:

I managed to land a relatively cushy white-collar job,

Yeah that's probably my end game, to turn into a filthy capitalist and climb the ranks at some modest chain.  Better to be a big fish in a small pond then the other way around.

I've had a decent paying, decent benefits blue collar job for several years but I didn't feel like I was getting anywhere so I quit.

EDIT: That, or a porn star, lots of former Communists either turn into capitalists or become porn stars.

 

Edited May 22, 2021 by ComradeYellow

[Sarex]

7 hours ago, Agiel said:

If the country having a "masculine military" means being conscripted into a force that is cosmically corrupt, its equipment constantly facing readiness issues and modernisations deferred, and myself getting the stuffing beaten out of me on a daily basis, honestly, I think the US military is in an alright place.

I mean the difference being that corruption in the US is on a scale where it has been legalized, also are you saying that there is no hazing in the US military, no rapes, no killings? I mean you make TV shows and movies about such things...

But that Whitehall Report was a treat to read. I just find it funny that the scenarios they imagine Russian and Chinese Aircraft being in is anything other than defensive and in full support of their anti-air defenses. Also the comparison between the aircraft reads like a reddit thread, until there is a real conflict between the mentioned aircraft everything is just guessing and we saw what happens when stealth meets the real world.

As for equipment failing readiness I always liked this clip. Joking aside I don't see what equipment has to the with enlisting, you are going to be miserable either way, modern equipment will hardly change that.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Sarex

[Gfted1]

3 hours ago, Sarex said:

...until there is a real conflict between the mentioned aircraft everything is just guessing and we saw what happens when stealth meets the real world.

What happens? I dont feel like reading the report.

[Raithe]

[Guard Dog]

I’m going to echo the sentiments of my friend from out west. Working before higher education is an excellent idea. Not the least reason it allows you to save money so you can go to school on your own terms. Going into extreme debt for a degree does not make a lot of sense. You don’t have to do it that way. In my case my rich uncle paid for most of my education and all I had to do was go to work for him for a few years. He is your rich uncle to if you want to go to work for him

but coming right out of high school I think vo-tech should be considered. Think about this for a second. HVAC technicians are always in huge demand and they’re starting pay at entry level is about $60,000 per year. That’s here in BFE Tennessee. In populated areas it’s a higher. A two year course of study at a technical college will set you back about $12,000. Not a terrible amount of debt when there is a high-paying job at the other side of it. If you’re a single full-time employed student going to a university part time is not so terrible a financial burden. 
 

Case in point. My niece is graduating from Stetson University down in Florida in a week. She has a bachelors degree in international business. And a job offer making $75,000 per year. But she financed the entire cost of her education. So she has around $80k in student loan debt. That’s like a mortgage without a house. Who’s better off? Her or my theoretical vo-tech student?

One other thing to consider. There’s absolutely no rule written anywhere that says you have to graduate with the institution you started your education with. Unless you have a scholarship that is specific to a school don’t pay premium price before your first two years. Go to a community college or a small college. The tuition is literally half. I did my first two years at MDCC in Miami. well it really took me four years because I was going part time but you get the idea.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Guard Dog

[Sarex]

3 hours ago, Gfted1 said:

What happens? I dont feel like reading the report.

It gets shot down with the proverbial slingshot and then gets covered up.

[HoonDing]

[Malcador]

Eh, as long as your military can beat up inferior nations, doesn't matter.

14 hours ago, Agiel said:

If the country having a "masculine military" means being conscripted into a force that is cosmically corrupt, its equipment constantly facing readiness issues and modernisations deferred, and myself getting the stuffing beaten out of me on a daily basis, honestly, I think the US military is in an alright place.

For the last part, is a problem for many nations - US has an issue with female soldiers being raped, right ?

Edited May 22, 2021 by Malcador

[ComradeYellow]

https://www.msnbc.com/stephanie-ruhle/watch/ice-cream-parlor-raises-minimum-wage-to-15-hr-flooded-with-job-applications-112471621755

See?  it's magic.  Actually give people decent wages and business will boom, applications will flood in, and prices won't go up.

[Gromnir]

5 hours ago, Guard Dog said:

 

but coming right out of high school I think vo-tech should be considered. Think about this for a second. HVAC technicians are always in huge demand and they’re starting pay at entry level is about $60,000 per year. That’s here in BFE Tennessee. In populated areas it’s a higher. A two year course of study at a technical college will set you back about $12,000. Not a terrible amount of debt when there is a high-paying job at the other side of it. If you’re a single full-time employed student going to a university part time is not so terrible a financial burden. 
 

 

the internet says you might be indulging in a bit of hyperbole

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-Entry-Level-HVAC-Technician-Salary-by-State

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/HVAC-Technician-Salary-in-Memphis,TN

but

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/High-School-English-Teacher-Salary-in-Memphis,TN

am complete agreeing with most other observations, particular military service and community college. unless you are independent wealthy, or are going ivy league (or similar,) am not certain what is the reason for choosing other than the community college route, and this is coming from a true education snob.

HA! Good Fun!

Edited May 22, 2021 by Gromnir

[Guard Dog]

I saw an ad on LinkedIn. That was about all the research I put into it. But I think the ad said the candidate needed a CDL.