Ah, but if I’ve removed just a tiny bit of your ignorance and - dare we all hope? - arrogance it is all worthwhile.

And if not, well, you said it yourself - one can’t fix stupid. Some people’s only real talent seem to be the capability to embarrass themselves with their own arrogance.

And yeah, plenty of pilots have been off off work because they’ve been unable to get medicals - at least temporarily - due to coronary disease, cancer, or car accidents, perhaps not a furlough in the strictest sense, but close enough. A number of flying careers (and even lives) have been terminated altogether that way, including, regrettably, the careers of a couple friends of mine.

You aren’t a real happy guy, are you?