OT: Hurricanes Lounge XLVI: Really, It's All About Beer and Bojangles

[MinJaBen]

Back in the late 80s, they sometimes did make short trips with big planes. For instance, when I was interviewing for jobs, I had to fly from Cleveland to Detroit and it was in a huge plane. I think it was a 767, or maybe the larger variant of the 757. It was about 25% full. I suspect that they wanted the plane in Detroit thus why they used it because it was only about an hour flight.

That was about 4 years before Home Alone 2 was filmed.

I agree with you though. Flying in the 80s and 90s was different than flying now. They definitely pack people in as the seats are less roomy and I rarely encounter a flight that isn't full.

They've also kept increasing fees for things to the point where we feel they are "normal" now.

The difference is night and day from the 80’s until now. Can you imagine People’s Expression existing now with paying for your ticket on the plane while in mid flight?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Amen to that about Atlanta. It probably doesn't help my opinion of Atlanta that I had to sleep in the airport once.

I also slept in Atlanta Hartsfield once. Missed a connecting flight so I found a gate that was wonderfully, inexplicably completely empty so I laid down on a row of seats and tucked in for the night.

When I woke up, I was surrounded by a HUGE crowd of people. Like I literally woke up staring at someone’s knees in their suit pants. A lot of them were flight attendants and pilots in their dress outfits, plus a bunch of corporate looking people. There were, I shit you not, balloon arches over the gate that were put up while I was sleeping. I sat up and must have had the most “what the ever loving ****” look on my face. Everyone starts clapping and I follow their gaze out the window towards the tarmac and again, I shit you not, there was a plane arriving under a fire truck water hose salute.

Turns out it was Southwest Airlines’ first day operating at that airport. They set up a whole-ass corporate event involving their CEO arriving on the first flight and making a speech at the gate, and I slept through the whole damn event setup. By the grace of the airline gods I didn’t end up a meme or something.

Years in the making: SWA lands in Atlanta

I remember reading about Southwest Airlines years ago when I entered the aviation industry. They didn’t fly down south (at least not the southeastern US) so no one really cared to notice them…

airlineguys.com

 

[Oogie Boogie]

People talking about having their Airports be Charlotte, Raleigh, or anywhere else and I'm stuck with Greensboro

 

[Unsustainable]

 

[hblueridgegal]

Love this organization. They’re doing so many wonderful actions for those in need. Tiny houses, rebuilds, helping the homeless in all sorts of ways.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/bird-flu-virus-shows-mutations-first-severe-human-case-us-cdc-says-2024-12-26/?utm_source=reddit.com

Who’s ready for the next pandemic?

 

[NotOpie]

The insurance companies are making medical providers and patients jump through hoops which is also adding to the paperwork. It's not just the mandates (although that's part of it). That's my point.

Agree with everything you mentioned and, as I said, I won't ever absolve insurance companies (or in your 2nd example, the provider - btw, have had my GP tell me much the same). But you did sort of confirm my point. Even with the increased pressure for profits, the paperwork and the processes all also add to the bill.

 

[MinJaBen]

I hate when our low key banned politics thread gets interrupted by hockey.

 

[raynman]

By the way @NotOpie regarding the 1st item on your list: Unhealthy lifestyles of the typical American.

I'd like someone to do the economic analysis of giving free (or at least affordable with or without insurance) statin drugs and GLP1 drugs to any American who wants them vs. the impact on cost of health care. Cardiovascular disease (Heart and stroke) are by far the biggest health concern in the US and growing. These two drugs can make a huge difference on the cost of care when problems arise, which is growing.

As an example, I've been on statins since 1997. I have hereditary high cholesterol and heart disease, and back then, I went on a complete fat free, low sugar diet and exercised like crazy for 6 months. I dropped 20 lbs at the time and was in great shape. My cholesterol went from 290 to 285. My father was a mailman who walked almost 8 miles a day 5 days a week. Had a heart attack at 55 and after a quadruple by-pass, lived until he had a stroke at 84.

My sister, who is 3 years older than me, refused to take statins her whole life. Her doctor finally said in 2022 "Ok, I'll make a deal with you, get a calcium heart scan and if it comes back good, I'll never bother you again about statins". I had just gotten my scan in 2021 and it came back with a score of ZERO (no calcium buildup detected). She got her score and it was worse than 95% of women her age. She's now on statins as well as another drug (I can't remember the name).

I'll never tell anyone to take statins if they don't want to, but the stuff works. My doctor jokingly said "I wish they'd put it in the water, it would make my life easier".

Just wanted to touch on GLP1s as someone who has been on one for the past year and a half (type 2 diabetic). They are without a doubt life saving/changing meds.

I was 355 lbs in March of 2023 before I started, my A1C was between 7-9 so not the worst but still would’ve led to complications. I’m down to 210 with an A1C between 4.9-5.4 for the last year. Absolutely in the best shape of my life and enjoying all of the activities that lead to a healthier/happier life as I approach 40.

Managing diabetes and obesity can be so expensive/hard and people just give up (I was one of them!). It leads to a miserable, painful, expensive existence, and in a lot of cases an early death. I really hope more people can get affordable access to them. Science rules.

 

[hangman005]

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/bird-flu-virus-shows-mutations-first-severe-human-case-us-cdc-says-2024-12-26/?utm_source=reddit.com

Who’s ready for the next pandemic?

They've been trying to make Bird Flu happen for years. The need to get more creative.... rock on Armadillo Flu.

Also Bird Flu, of course it did, that's what birds do

 

[MinJaBen]

Just wanted to touch on GLP1s as someone who has been on one for the past year and a half (type 2 diabetic). They are without a doubt life saving/changing meds.

I was 355 lbs in March of 2023 before I started, my A1C was between 7-9 so not the worst but still would’ve led to complications. I’m down to 210 with an A1C between 4.9-5.4 for the last year. Absolutely in the best shape of my life and enjoying all of the activities that lead to a healthier/happier life as I approach 40.

Managing diabetes and obesity can be so expensive/hard and people just give up (I was one of them!). It leads to a miserable, painful, expensive existence, and in a lot of cases an early death. I really hope more people can get affordable access to them. Science engineering rules.

Or so I've been told...

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Just wanted to touch on GLP1s as someone who has been on one for the past year and a half (type 2 diabetic). They are without a doubt life saving/changing meds.

I was 355 lbs in March of 2023 before I started, my A1C was between 7-9 so not the worst but still would’ve led to complications. I’m down to 210 with an A1C between 4.9-5.4 for the last year. Absolutely in the best shape of my life and enjoying all of the activities that lead to a healthier/happier life as I approach 40.

Managing diabetes and obesity can be so expensive/hard and people just give up (I was one of them!). It leads to a miserable, painful, expensive existence, and in a lot of cases an early death. I really hope more people can get affordable access to them. Science rules.

That's awesome to hear.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I hate when our low key banned politics thread gets interrupted by hockey.

It’s like when the pizza guy shows up at the illegal poker game and everyone’s like, we’re… uh… trading rare collectible playing cards.

 

[Svechhammer]

Looks like Elon is busy pissing off everyone who is in the platform he owns, this time demonitizing anyone who criticizes his support of the rampant escalation of H1B workers in tech. (Which, as someone who has now spent 15 years in the industry, I have to say is a legitimate complaint and criticism of the industry, especially when you have entire campuses in the RTP that have upwards of 50% workforces comprised of H1B workers, and it's not because of a lack of domestic talent)

 

[Svechhammer]

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Looks like Elon is busy pissing off everyone who is in the platform he owns, this time demonitizing anyone who criticizes his support of the rampant escalation of H1B workers in tech. (Which, as someone who has now spent 15 years in the industry, I have to say is a legitimate complaint and criticism of the industry, especially when you have entire campuses in the RTP that have upwards of 50% workforces comprised of H1B workers, and it's not because of a lack of domestic talent)

You mean to tell me the guy that easily switched from left-leaning to right-leaning as soon as it offered him a shot at power might not actually care either way and is only interested in what benefits himself? Surely not.

It is funny how quickly the relationship between him and the orange man soured though. Two narcissists that demand they're the center of attention at all times was never going to work out long term, but it's not even inauguration day yet.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Well, I guess there's a long list of "extremists" then

 

[Svechhammer]

Sorry but a guy saying things like this shouldn't be anywhere near government. Outright saying the only thing he doesn't support right now is the domestic workforce.

Don't care what side of the aisle you are, this should piss you off.

 

[DaveG]

Back in the late 80s, they sometimes did make short trips with big planes. For instance, when I was interviewing for jobs, I had to fly from Cleveland to Detroit and it was in a huge plane. I think it was a 767, or maybe the larger variant of the 757. It was about 25% full. I suspect that they wanted the plane in Detroit thus why they used it because it was only about an hour flight.

That was about 4 years before Home Alone 2 was filmed.

I agree with you though. Flying in the 80s and 90s was different than flying now. They definitely pack people in as the seats are less roomy and I rarely encounter a flight that isn't full.

They've also kept increasing fees for things to the point where we feel they are "normal" now.

So this is actually how I ended up meeting Lynn Swann. So I'm flying out of Atlanta late after an audition there back up to Pittsburgh. Lynn had been calling a game in Atlanta (no f***ing clue who they were playing) and being that the only people actually on the flight were magically myself and him they actually offered to let me sit in first class. You just flat out would never get that anymore. I think post 08 recession is when things really started to change in how airlines treat passengers.

 

[tarheelhockey]

View attachment 951992

Sorry but a guy saying things like this shouldn't be anywhere near government. Outright saying the only thing he doesn't support right now is the domestic workforce.

Don't care what side of the aisle you are, this should piss you off.

Why invest in America when it’s easier not to?

- the guy running our country

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Why invest in America when it’s easier not to?

- the guy running our country

He’s been planning it for a while, as well.

View attachment 951992

Sorry but a guy saying things like this shouldn't be anywhere near government. Outright saying the only thing he doesn't support right now is the domestic workforce.

Don't care what side of the aisle you are, this should piss you off.

Don’t forget his partner in DOGE, Vivek Ramswamy, basically saying they’ll hire foreign workers because Americans have been raised in a culture that worships the lazy. Not that I think he’s particularly wrong about that point, but definitely not something youd want to hear after campaigning on “American first!”

 

[Lempo]

Well, I guess there's a long list of "extremists" then

Looks like the 60,000 laughter emojis among the 65,000 overall Facebook reactions went into their emotions.

 

[Blueline Bomber]

 

[Svechhammer]

Early morning wellness check on Elmo

Oh. Oh no.

 

[Svechhammer]

The funny thing is, they don't even know what the f*** they are talking about when they say people aren't educated enough. First of all, it's all bullshit, there are excellent people on H1B visas who will outshine everyone there and there are terrible ones who will drain time and resources just to get them to produce semi functioning code. It's basically the exact same talent pool as domestic workers (just with an added fun caveat that you cannot trust an advanced education degree due to rampant degree farm abuse in India that has caused a handful of my own employees to be silently terminated overnight).

It's all about bringing in a workforce that is legally tied to a specific company because they know if their work is terminated their visa is immediately revoked and get another job elsewhere they have to apply for it again, which many times means moving back to India waiting 6 months for the visa to be approved only to be allowed back. Which means they have no ability to negotiate better salaries once they are hired, and all that does is put pressure on companies to constantly backfill domestic FTE with H1B contractors because it saves money.

Has nothing to do with education. Has nothing to do with willingness to work. Has everything to do with how much they can control the workforce, and it's easier for them to legally abuse foreign workers than domestic.

And again, it's not like there is a shortage of domestic workers. Unemployment in the tech industry is horrid right now. If you are laid off you are f***ed. Happened to me in March and I believe I applied to about 450 jobs over the next 6 months and maybe got called back on 20 of them, getting to a final interview 5 times. And this is someone with 15 years and extensive experience working in the exact same jobs as I was applying. Automated application reviews has completely broken the system, if you're in tech the deck is already stacked against you, and now assholes like Elon and Vivek are publicly saying that you're too dumb to be hired.

It's not going to end well for them. This is going to enrage a much larger portion of the population than they could have imagined, and it's only beginning.