(06-24-2023 07:57 AM)stinkfist Wrote: JR, pardon the Yogi-ism, ‘one only knows what they know unless they continually strive to learn’
therefore, it’s a given the majority of the global pop. are nothing but tools or fools…
myself, I’m simply shootin’ for #costa … it was always going to be a ‘close finish’ … 
I was asked once why I retired early from my last profession. The response was I knew too much. When you know what your superiors are afraid some will learn, it's time to go.
We are living in the most perilous times in my life. It's not just the U.S., which is coming unhinged, it's all of the world powers. China faces some major issues but hangs tight on control and keeps a consistent vision. Western Civilization is under attack because it grew decadent and complacent. Now none of our military has seen a real war. They know all too well the horrors of asymmetrical warfare and insurgency and terrorism, but outside of the brief episode in Iraq not much about an Army facing another.
We got so fat with military contracts that we have planes, ships, vehicles, and weapons systems which don't function properly and really don't address their purpose.
In WWII we got our butts kicked in North Africa. The Pentagon finally weeded out the political appointee generals who screwed up and weren't prepared or capable. Then we kicked ass. That happened in every war leading up to WWII.
You could afford to clean house because a big war took years to resolve. Now the whole damn thing could be over in 20 minutes. Now political appointee generals and admirals will get you not only beaten, but wiped out.
We think we are great because we inherited it. You know what they say happens when the third generation takes over a family business. Well the third generation now heads the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
You know Stink two things suck about growing old and still learning. One, you don't have as much time to utilize what you have learned, and in retirement don't have a place in which to utilize it outside of your family and friends. Two, young people never believe you no matter how factual the information you impart, because it isn't what they heard from idiots at school, or work, and because they have to learn everything the hard way. I was the same way until I was 19. At 19 I paid for everything on my own, had already bought my own car in high school. I paid for college, graduate school, marriage, everything. I own my home outright. The grandkids expect nice Christmas presents, but they don't believe a damn thing I tell them until they get burned.
Yogi had a side kick, Boo Boo!. The two go hand in hand.