rwmurrayVT

Check out the Cleveland Browns. They have packed crowds, endless merchandise sales, and full-throated support of their team even in light of gross mismanagement, sexual abusers, and more losses than wins.

That story applies to both sides of the aisle in US Government. The battle is for the 1/3 that doesn't vote and the sliver of folks who switch back and forth.

That's what happened to me...

The company I worked for just released a new non-contact scanner with accuracy similar to a laser tracker. The only potential automotive companies that have expressed interest so far are EV only.

There is misery and there is hope.

The Navy has failed to accomplish the modpro packages on the current CGs & LSD, including Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Tortuga. Those three I have personally been involved with in many ways. The 5XXX and structural work on the CG program has been wildly underestimated. The money for Tortuga was never there and as she lay idle in the shipyard problems grew. They are not simply east coast/BAE issues either. The issues repeat themselves here on the west coast at Vigor. It was a huge mistake to leave behind cost+ and switch to FFP. There is too much time lost to pointless contract fighting.

There is hope on the horizon with new subs and DDGx and FFG. Time will tell if the new build construction yields a new DDG1000/LCS or a workhorse like the earlier DDG flights.

As for corrosion it is a necessary evil. Too many armchair metallurgists point to various alloys as a solution. The ocean is cold, salty, and miserable. The planning yards, repair yards, and Navy are full of extremely bright and hardworking folks. It takes time and money to fight rust at sea and in port.

There's a big issue with manning on the civilian and Navy side. At the end of the day there are few people in my generation lining up to enlist or to do body-damaging labor. I can't say I blame them.. I became and engineer and then joined program management. Few in the yards want the same for their children as they had in their life. Those who are left are primarily 30+ years of experience or 1-5 years of experience looking to get out.

There are many sacrificial zincs on ships, including in tanks.

It is also common in shiprepair to use the stars for aligning equipment with a theodolite like device.

There's a major difference between repair/maintenance fires and the incidences afloat. Shipyard fires are being held to the highest standards ever since Oscar Austin, the submarine, and now LHD.

Partially correct. In the shipyard the RMC can override the CO in several situations.

There have been major changes in the shipyard since the fire. Navy leadership, RMCs, and ship's force have been more involved at every level. The question to follow now is when will they return to complacency.

It has been my experience that some of their metrology equipment lags behind API and Faro. Then again I'm a little biased because of my exposure to them both.

I met a great guy in federal prison. I won't name him just for privacy even though he died this past year.

His family was pretty big in the onion packing industry. He was in the finance industry selling 401k and other financial products to onion industry businesses. Really great guy and taught me a lot about the agricultural business. I still have a subscription to The Packer to this day.

Earning a return greater than the 0.10% offered by my credit union. Should only those with more capital than 1mm earn returns?

Hey buddy, long time no talk. I'm glad to hear you're still out there doing well. I still check you out online every once in a while. I'm going to email you tomorrow in case you miss this.

<3