I’m not in a tech field just a helicopter mechanic. I now work on the exact same helicopters I did in the Marines (I mean the same BUNOs), in the exact same hangar spaces, using some of the exact same tools… but now I’ve got better pay, my day ends after 8 hours (otherwise OT), I know I’m getting the weekend off (otherwise OT), all that stuff is even better since I’m union. Being the steward it’s easier to tell my boss to fuck off on some things (Though, while I was in it was more forgivable to physically fight my bosses and coworkers), and I still get socialized medicine via the VA. Plus, my socialized & guaranteed basic income via VA disability. Many of my coworkers are going to school after work thanks to socialized education benefits via the VA.

It’s much more lucrative to take military OJT into the 1st Civ Div than to stay in. Plus, I get to spend time convincing my coworkers (99% former military) they’re already socialist. It’s heartwarming how many are not happy with our government.

In the United States 4 years in the military is the cheat code to a better life. Unfortunately.

No, we’re on the same page you just haven’t read enough of it. The very article you linked says Otto engines can reach 30% efficiency. It also touches on other 4-stroke engine cycles.

deleted by creator

Then your original comment is still wrong, because diesel engines are significantly more thermally efficient than 25%. Even modern gas engines tend to beat your 25% claim.

All Otto cycle are 4-stroke but not all 4-stroke are Otto cycle.

Last I heard modern gas engines have reached a smidge over 30% thermal efficiency because the pure Otto cycle hasn’t been used in decades. Mazda(?) recently announced an engine over 40% efficiency using an Atkinson design I think. Superchargers and more Turbochargers boost efficiency more by recycling waste energy.

But I’m not sure any of that matters because diesels aren’t Otto Cycle.

What’s weird is that Gale Banks, one of the godfathers of turbocharging and a huge name in diesel performance, is adamant that rolling coal is stupid. Especially in modern engines with lightening fast fuel control systems… more forgivable in older diesels with mechanical injection systems. But he says it’s money and horsepower literally blowing out your exhaust, being a internal combustion engine enthusiast myself I don’t understand wanting to leave performance blowing away in the wind; that’s YOUR unburnt diesel blowing away! In THIS economy!

Or just start throwing crayons at the Marines, I’ll bet the dress blues in my closet they’ll laugh at that.

Reminds me of a story. Not as annoying as the DMV but there was a BBQ place in Texas, an old place in some old dying town. The place is open only 3 or 4 days a week until the meats are gone. When open the line goes out the door and down the sidewalk. I went once and the local high school kids would get in line. As they got closer to the front they’d start selling off spots, auctioning their place in line. The kids got paid then went and got in line again. Repeat.

Eh … if played out like the above comment suggests, with China giving us a little token tariff on US imports to twist the knife, we on the ground won’t be affected. Fuck, we’ll be vastly better off than under the Trump tariffs plans. We all win, he loses.

Hopefully they all remember their oaths of enlistment are to the Constitution first, THEN the president.

There grey areas in parallel chains but all chains end in Washington at the capital.

No, second in command is the Secretary of Defense. But if the Vice President is acting on behalf or under direction of the president it could be seen as a billet. Walking around bases every unit has pictures of their chains of command, all of them include the VP and have for a long time.

That’s not what chain of command means. It simply establishes the hierarchy. Commands can be given by anyone who outranks you, or holds a billet that comes with higher authority. Trump and Vance at the top of that chain and can issue legal orders to literally anyone in the US military.

This lawsuit was headed by the AFL-CIO, which is a union of unions.

I was at my monthly meeting last night until 7:45, the meeting started at 4:30. Lots of people were concerned and discussing the attacks on the NLRB, DoL and OSHA; concerned about this administration’s anti-worker tilt.