November Current Events: No election talk

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Internet VFW > November Current Events: No election talk

shame on an IGA: Apr 8, 2005

Cyks posted:

Were you driving a bus or a fuel truck? I�ve never seen anyone or heard of coming to a complete stop at railroad tracks otherwise.

No gate arms is key. We still have a handful out in the sticks here that don't even have blinkenlights, they are legally equivalent to a stop sign in that scenario.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 14:44

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? May 3, 2024 14:29

facialimpediment: Feb 11, 2005; as the world turns

facialimpediment posted:

Heavy duty galaxy braining currently underway in Cochise County, AZ

https://twitter.com/VaughnHillyard/status/1597414873549328384

Cochise County is still galaxy braining and seem really, really devoted to getting themselves somehow tossed into jail:

https://twitter.com/billscher/status/1598166553861804032

# ? Dec 1, 2022 14:59

CRUSTY MINGE: Mar 30, 2011; Peggy Hill
Foot Connoisseur

Cyks posted:

Were you driving a bus or a fuel truck? I’ve never seen anyone or heard of coming to a complete stop at railroad tracks otherwise.

Illinois. Specifically rural Illinois. Where crossing arms largely don't exist outside of towns, sometimes not even there.

shame on an IGA posted:

No gate arms is key. We still have a handful out in the sticks here that don't even have blinkenlights, they are legally equivalent to a stop sign in that scenario.

Yep.

Same driving admins would gig kids on the country portion of the route, at corners without stop signs for any direction. Legally you didn't need to stop to check to make sure you weren't going to get plowed, but it was heavily implied you should. The admins would just fail whoever blew through the country intersections because it was "unsafe", not "illegal".

I knew a few people killed at corn up country intersections. The hired hand on my grandparents farm was almost killed at an intersection. He didn't have the stop sign, a soda delivery truck did and blew through it, t-boned the old pickup with the gas tank between the cab and bed. Took nearly a year for him to recover. Part of his settlement was getting several cases of soda delivered weekly for the rest of his life, on top of medical bills and 5 figures. Dude was never left wanting for RC products in the 90s, though.

So it's a pretty big safety thing to stop in unsigned places in that part of the country, and test admins kinda have a right to be a dick about it.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 15:09

A.o.D.: Jan 15, 2006; The Suffering of the Succotash.

CRUSTY MINGE posted:

Illinois. Specifically rural Illinois. Where crossing arms largely don't exist outside of towns, sometimes not even there.

Yep.

Same driving admins would gig kids on the country portion of the route, at corners without stop signs for any direction. Legally you didn't need to stop to check to make sure you weren't going to get plowed, but it was heavily implied you should. The admins would just fail whoever blew through the country intersections because it was "unsafe", not "illegal".

I knew a few people killed at corn up country intersections. The hired hand on my grandparents farm was almost killed at an intersection. He didn't have the stop sign, a soda delivery truck did and blew through it, t-boned the old pickup with the gas tank between the cab and bed. Took nearly a year for him to recover. Part of his settlement was getting several cases of soda delivered weekly for the rest of his life, on top of medical bills and 5 figures. Dude was never left wanting for RC products in the 90s, though.

So it's a pretty big safety thing to stop in unsigned places in that part of the country, and test admins kinda have a right to be a dick about it.

I can respect local officials covering a real safety need that state legislators are indifferent to.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 15:44

CRUSTY MINGE: Mar 30, 2011; Peggy Hill
Foot Connoisseur

A.o.D. posted:

I can respect local officials covering a real safety need that state legislators are indifferent to.

I can too. Like I said, bad habits by 16. I deserved my failures. They just weren't common ways to get gigged on a driving test for most people.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 15:55

CBJSprague24: Dec 5, 2010; another game at nationwide arena. everybody keeps asking me if they can fuck the cannon. buddy, they don't even let me fuck it

facialimpediment posted:

Cochise County is still galaxy braining and seem really, really devoted to getting themselves somehow tossed into jail:

https://twitter.com/billscher/status/1598166553861804032

The GOP losing another house seat because of election denial would just be the best thing imaginable.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 16:00

Cugel the Clever: Apr 5, 2009; I LOVE AMERICA AND CAPITALISM DESPITE BEING POOR AS FUCK. I WILL NEVER RETIRE BUT HERE'S ANOTHER 200$ FOR UKRAINE, SLAVA

A.o.D. posted:

I can respect local officials covering a real safety need that state legislators are indifferent to.

What are the legislators going to do in that instance? Automated enforcement to force drivers into obeying posted signage? Make all intersections traffic circles with obstructive center islands?

I'm all for both, but don't know either is particularly realistic at every single rural intersection.

Just adding more signage will leave the intersection with two idiots ignoring the signage, if that's already the problem. At that point, you're left with fundamentally changing driving culture.

Cugel the Clever fucked around with this message at 16:42 on Dec 1, 2022

# ? Dec 1, 2022 16:40

Milo and POTUS: Sep 3, 2017; I will not shut up about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. I talk about them all the time and work them into every conversation I have. I built a shrine in my room for the yellow one who died because sadly no one noticed because she died around 9/11. Wanna see it?

CRUSTY MINGE posted:

Illinois. Specifically rural Illinois. Where crossing arms largely don't exist outside of towns, sometimes not even there.

Yep.

Same driving admins would gig kids on the country portion of the route, at corners without stop signs for any direction. Legally you didn't need to stop to check to make sure you weren't going to get plowed, but it was heavily implied you should. The admins would just fail whoever blew through the country intersections because it was "unsafe", not "illegal".

I knew a few people killed at corn up country intersections. The hired hand on my grandparents farm was almost killed at an intersection. He didn't have the stop sign, a soda delivery truck did and blew through it, t-boned the old pickup with the gas tank between the cab and bed. Took nearly a year for him to recover. Part of his settlement was getting several cases of soda delivered weekly for the rest of his life, on top of medical bills and 5 figures. Dude was never left wanting for RC products in the 90s, though.

So it's a pretty big safety thing to stop in unsigned places in that part of the country, and test admins kinda have a right to be a dick about it.

What's corn up country

# ? Dec 1, 2022 16:51

Nick Soapdish: Apr 27, 2008

Milo and POTUS posted:

What's corn up country

Not much, what's corn up with you?

# ? Dec 1, 2022 16:57

RFC2324: Jun 7, 2012; http 418

Cugel the Clever posted:

What are the legislators going to do in that instance? Automated enforcement to force drivers into obeying posted signage? Make all intersections traffic circles with obstructive center islands?

I'm all for both, but don't know either is particularly realistic at every single rural intersection.

Just adding more signage will leave the intersection with two idiots ignoring the signage, if that's already the problem. At that point, you're left with fundamentally changing driving culture.

There is NO signage currently, that is the problem.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 17:00

Cugel the Clever: Apr 5, 2009; I LOVE AMERICA AND CAPITALISM DESPITE BEING POOR AS FUCK. I WILL NEVER RETIRE BUT HERE'S ANOTHER 200$ FOR UKRAINE, SLAVA

RFC2324 posted:

There is NO signage currently, that is the problem.

Hmm, the story was that the soda driver did have a sign? But yeah, having zero signage would be insane. Had an intersection like that on suburban neighborhood streets where I grew up and I don't know how I never heard about accidents at it.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 17:06

RFC2324: Jun 7, 2012; http 418

Cugel the Clever posted:

Hmm, the story was that the soda driver did have a sign? But yeah, having zero signage would be insane. Had an intersection like that on suburban neighborhood streets where I grew up and I don't know how I never heard about accidents at it.

Yeah, thats a weird story to include other than maybe it teaches people to not even look?

# ? Dec 1, 2022 17:17

That Works: Jul 22, 2006; Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy

Cyks posted:

Were you driving a bus or a fuel truck? I�ve never seen anyone or heard of coming to a complete stop at railroad tracks otherwise.

Except those cops who did it with someone in the back seat?

# ? Dec 1, 2022 17:31

shame on an IGA: Apr 8, 2005

Cugel the Clever posted:

What are the legislators going to do in that instance? Make all intersections traffic circles with obstructive center islands?

South Carolina has been on a tear of doing this to all their high-fatality bad-sightline long-runup rural intersections for about 15 years and it has been working brilliantly. The roundabout's age in America has finally come

# ? Dec 1, 2022 17:44

Arrath: Apr 14, 2011

shame on an IGA posted:

South Carolina has been on a tear of doing this to all their high-fatality bad-sightline long-runup rural intersections for about 15 years and it has been working brilliantly. The roundabout's age in America has finally come

Yes please bring on the roundabouts

# ? Dec 1, 2022 17:52

Soylent Pudding: Jun 22, 2007; We've got people!

Milo and POTUS posted:

What's corn up country

When the corn is fully grown it's so tall you can't see anything. It's planted right up to the roads so every intersection is a blind intersection.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 17:55

facialimpediment: Feb 11, 2005; as the world turns

Let's check in on Ye

https://twitter.com/willsommer/status/1598361906338828292

https://twitter.com/Bencjacobs/status/1598365953028497408

Let's check out on Ye

# ? Dec 1, 2022 18:17

Coasterphreak: May 29, 2007; I like cookies.

shame on an IGA posted:

South Carolina has been on a tear of doing this to all their high-fatality bad-sightline long-runup rural intersections for about 15 years and it has been working brilliantly. The roundabout's age in America has finally come

Not just rural ones, suburban ones too, especially at lower volume intersections where a signal isn't technically necessary. (signals are more expensive because they're designed to withstand hurricanes)

# ? Dec 1, 2022 18:21

RFC2324: Jun 7, 2012; http 418

# ? Dec 1, 2022 18:21

PookBear: Nov 1, 2008

CRUSTY MINGE posted:

Illinois. Specifically rural Illinois. Where crossing arms largely don't exist outside of towns, sometimes not even there.

Yep.

Same driving admins would gig kids on the country portion of the route, at corners without stop signs for any direction. Legally you didn't need to stop to check to make sure you weren't going to get plowed, but it was heavily implied you should. The admins would just fail whoever blew through the country intersections because it was "unsafe", not "illegal".

I knew a few people killed at corn up country intersections. The hired hand on my grandparents farm was almost killed at an intersection. He didn't have the stop sign, a soda delivery truck did and blew through it, t-boned the old pickup with the gas tank between the cab and bed. Took nearly a year for him to recover. Part of his settlement was getting several cases of soda delivered weekly for the rest of his life, on top of medical bills and 5 figures. Dude was never left wanting for RC products in the 90s, though.

So it's a pretty big safety thing to stop in unsigned places in that part of the country, and test admins kinda have a right to be a dick about it.

Yeah I grew up in rural texas and every few years there would be a really bad accident on the dirt roads

# ? Dec 1, 2022 18:47

A.o.D.: Jan 15, 2006; The Suffering of the Succotash.

Arrath posted:

Yes please bring on the roundabouts

As you wish.

https://youtu.be/LuGAWR2eRyQ

# ? Dec 1, 2022 18:55

Tiny Timbs: Sep 6, 2008

shame on an IGA posted:

South Carolina has been on a tear of doing this to all their high-fatality bad-sightline long-runup rural intersections for about 15 years and it has been working brilliantly. The roundabout's age in America has finally come

There�s tons in VA now and I couldn�t be happier

Except when some moron in a luxury SUV fails to yield and just dives straight in

# ? Dec 1, 2022 18:57

Moon Slayer: Jun 19, 2007

From the Washington Post's email newsletter this morning:

quote:

It�s a tough time to be a major U.S. institution. Television news? Congress? Big Business? They�re all at major deficits when it comes to Americans� confidence in them. Historically, the U.S. military has enjoyed much, much better ratings. But a new poll is sounding the alarm.

From 2018 to 2022, trust and confidence in the uniformed services plummeted from 70 percent to 48 percent (it was 45% in 2021), according to the Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute survey. No other public institution has endured as steep and speedy a fall, the foundation warned.

Many factors have contributed to this collapse. But none more so than the public�s perception that the military leadership has become overly politicized. A total of 62 percent of Americans said that accounts for a great deal (34%) or some (28%) of the drop.

Interestingly, it�s a bipartisan phenomenon.

Both Democrats (24%) and Republicans (43%) put it in second place among reasons for decreased trust and confidence. Number one for Republicans was so-called �woke� practices (which the poll did not define) at 47 percent, while for Democrats it was the presence of far-right extremists in the ranks, at 32 percent.

Overall, though, the second heaviest public-perception millstone around the military�s neck is the performance and competence of presidents (59%) followed by that of the military�s civilian leadership (55%), then that of uniformed military leaders (52%), the foundation found.

A steady decline

The general drop in confidence hasn�t just been steep, it�s also been consistent: From 70% in November 2018, to 63% in October 2019, to 56% in February 2021, to 45% in November 2021 (the withdrawal from Afghanistan probably fueled some of that 11-point fall), to 48% this November.

Leave aside generals-turned-presidents, a regular feature of the republic since its founding, or troops serving as backdrops to presidential speeches about national security. The military � especially retired officers � have gotten more drawn into partisan fights in recent years.

It�s no surprise that the collapse gathered speed when Donald Trump was president. His clashes with generals � of the active kind, and the retired and televised varieties � were frequent headline fodder. That might explain the relatively greater weight of the argument on the GOP side.

But even before him there were warning signs.

Former generals delivered partisan speeches at the two major conventions in 2016 � retired Marine Gen. John R. Allen fired up the Democrats, retired Army Gen. Michael Flynn galvanized Republicans.

More recently, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley, has taken fire for a range of actions.

- Milley, in uniform, joined then-president Trump for a fateful walk from the White House to St. John�s Church after authorities had forcibly cleared Lafayette Square of protesters. He came under fire for thrusting the military into domestic politics. He publicly expressed regret.
- Later, he made disparaging behind-the-scenes comments about Trump, who demanded he resign and called him a traitor.
- And Republicans expressed outrage when Milley publicly defended the teaching of critical race theory in an elective course at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

�While several military leaders chose to involve themselves in partisan politics � Flynn, Allen and Milley � mostly our military are desperate to stay out of this fray,� said Kori Schake, who has held a variety of senior positions at the Pentagon, the State Department, and the National Security Council.�

In 2020, there were concerns about Americans in uniform at each of the major party conventions. And Trump worried some in the Pentagon with references to �my generals� and �my military.�

��The real blame for the public thinking of them in partisan terms is the relentless use of our military by politicians: Uniformed in campaign ads by candidates of both parties, Biden�s Marine backdrop for a speech about democracy failing, Trump castigating �the generals,� Republicans castigating the serving Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a traitor,� said Schake, the director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

�It�s terrible for the bond between our military and our society,� she told The Daily 202.

Civilian control

There�s another politicization challenge, though it may not look like one to people who don�t study civilian-military relations.

Two recent defense secretaries � Jim Mattis under Trump, Lloyd Austin under President Biden � needed special congressional waivers to serve because they had not been retired long enough under a statute meant to reinforce civilian control of the military.

Among the potential negative effects, this may fuel the perception that a political appointment is the capstone to a great military career, and mid-level officers may take decisions with visions of future confirmation hearings dancing in their heads.

The poll doesn�t explicitly connect these concerns to recruitment shortfalls, but it found that, among Americans 18-29 years of age, just 13% say they are highly willing to join up, 25% are somewhat willing, 20% and not very willing, and 26% are a hard no.

If the problem is politics, what�s the solution?

# ? Dec 1, 2022 19:25

Mustang: Jun 18, 2006; “We don’t really know where this goes — and I’m not sure we really care.”

That just looks like polarization and the culture wars being played out in the military, a reflection of American society at large. I don't think either of those two things will be fixed any time soon, and neither will perceptions of the military.

It also looks like a bulk of the distrust is coming from conservatives whining about "woke" policies.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 19:39

Tiny Timbs: Sep 6, 2008

Mustang posted:

It also looks like a bulk of the distrust is coming from conservatives whining about "woke" policies.

The contrast between Republicans complaining about "woke" policies and Democrats complaining about terrorist extremists is funny in an extremely troubling way!

Tiny Timbs fucked around with this message at 19:52 on Dec 1, 2022

# ? Dec 1, 2022 19:41

stealie72: Jan 10, 2007; Their eyes locked and suddenly there was the sound of breaking glass.
\

Tiny Timbs posted:

The contrast being Republicans complaining about "woke" policies and Democrats complaining about terrorist extremists is funny in an extremely troubling way!

Have never been in so I may be way off, but my perception has always been that the military (at least till senior officers) is the closest thing to a meritocracy this country has ever had, and is downright utopian/socialist as far as bringing people from diverse backgrounds together toward a common goal.

Feel free to laugh at me.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 19:49

Lemniscate Blue: Apr 21, 2006; Here we go again.

stealie72 posted:

Have never been in so I may be way off, but my perception has always been that the military (at least till senior officers) is the closest thing to a meritocracy this country has ever had, and is downright utopian/socialist as far as bringing people from diverse backgrounds together toward a common goal.

Feel free to laugh at me.

I love that you posted this here.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 19:52

stealie72: Jan 10, 2007; Their eyes locked and suddenly there was the sound of breaking glass.
\

Lemniscate Blue posted:

I love that you posted this here.

Take it more as an indictment of the rest of society rather than uncritical support of the military.

Yeah, this vvvvv

stealie72 fucked around with this message at 20:00 on Dec 1, 2022

# ? Dec 1, 2022 19:57

Tiny Timbs: Sep 6, 2008

It's kind of a "the military only looks better because everyone else is somehow worse" sort of thing. Demographics differ between service and between officer/enlisted ranks but it is true that a lot of people from different backgrounds are well-represented.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 19:58

maffew buildings: Apr 29, 2009; too dumb to be probated; not too dumb to be autobanned

Yes, the military is socialism for people too loving stupid to understand it's socialism

# ? Dec 1, 2022 19:59

M_Gargantua: Oct 16, 2006; STOMP'N ON INTO THE POWERLINES; Exciting Lemon

My housing is paid for, I am guaranteed a paycheck every two weeks, I am always fed.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 19:59

ThisIsJohnWayne: Feb 23, 2007; Ooo! Look at me! NO DON'T LOOK AT ME!

stealie72 posted:

Have never been in so I may be way off, but my perception has always been that the military (at least till senior officers) is the closest thing to a meritocracy this country has ever had, and is downright utopian/socialist as far as bringing people from diverse backgrounds together toward a common goal.

Feel free to laugh at me.

Do you know what the single largest predictor for officer promotions/highest rank achieved is? Being tall.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 20:02

Mustang: Jun 18, 2006; “We don’t really know where this goes — and I’m not sure we really care.”

stealie72 posted:

Have never been in so I may be way off, but my perception has always been that the military (at least till senior officers) is the closest thing to a meritocracy this country has ever had, and is downright utopian/socialist as far as bringing people from diverse backgrounds together toward a common goal.

Feel free to laugh at me.

This is adorable.

The diversity is definitely a strength though, I've never been around so many people from so many different backgrounds. It's probably a large part why the military has been drifting away from being solid republican votes. Even your chuddiest chud is going to be spending every day with people from a very different background than themselves.

But a meritocracy? LMAO

# ? Dec 1, 2022 20:02

Mustang: Jun 18, 2006; “We don’t really know where this goes — and I’m not sure we really care.”

ThisIsJohnWayne posted:

Do you know what the single largest predictor for officer promotions/highest rank achieved is? Being tall.

It's kissing the rear end of your superiors and crushing your subordinates. Guaranteed success.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 20:04

bulletsponge13: Apr 28, 2010

stealie72 posted:

Have never been in so I may be way off, but my perception has always been that the military (at least till senior officers) is the closest thing to a meritocracy this country has ever had, and is downright utopian/socialist as far as bringing people from diverse backgrounds together toward a common goal.

Feel free to laugh at me.

I wish I could give you a hug.

I wish it were- but unfortunately, the system has it's own ways.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 20:05

ASAPI: Apr 20, 2007; I invented the line.

Have to love the disconnect.

Democrat voters don't trust the Military because, "Hello? Nazis?"

GOP doesn't like the military because daring to tell people not to rape/be racist is WAY to "woke", "what happened to our American Values^tm?"

# ? Dec 1, 2022 20:06

ThisIsJohnWayne: Feb 23, 2007; Ooo! Look at me! NO DON'T LOOK AT ME!

Mustang posted:

It's kissing the rear end of your superiors and crushing your subordinates. Guaranteed success.

Well obviously, but try to put a numeric value for that on a recruit. Anyway I'm serious, I remember hearing Robert Citino in a lecture referencing an actual study covering, like, 1900-2000 showing an actual exponential relationship for height vs. career outcomes. Damned if I could remember anything more specific than that, but still

# ? Dec 1, 2022 20:16

piL: Sep 20, 2007; (__|\\\\); Taco Defender

ThisIsJohnWayne posted:

Do you know what the single largest predictor for officer promotions/highest rank achieved is? Being tall.

The merit is reaching things on the top shelf and sick dunks.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 20:19

ThisIsJohnWayne: Feb 23, 2007; Ooo! Look at me! NO DON'T LOOK AT ME!

piL posted:

The merit is reaching things on the top shelf and sick dunks.

My personal belief is there's more of an unresolved homoerotic freudian wish that would affect this, more than a perceived energy or factor of the sculptural as you promote here

The military is a little gay, you see

ThisIsJohnWayne fucked around with this message at 20:30 on Dec 1, 2022

# ? Dec 1, 2022 20:24

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ? May 3, 2024 14:29

CRUSTY MINGE: Mar 30, 2011; Peggy Hill
Foot Connoisseur

Milo and POTUS posted:

What's corn up country

Corn that's tall enough to obstruct your view, so corn up country is seasonal, June into November, throughout the midwest.

I had to go on a weed run, sorry I posted and ran.

People run stop signs in the middle of nowhere, especially when they have a dozen gears to shift through. That farm hand lived another 25 years, but the soda truck ran the sign thinking no one would be there.

# ? Dec 1, 2022 21:21

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Internet VFW > November Current Events: No election talk

«‹›45 »