Aren't bitcoins interesting? If governments can create fiat currencies, then why can't anyone if the widgets are accepted for trade?

The bitcoin thing isn't so much of a joke once you have the sovereign wealth funds of restricted nations like Iran playing in them and firms like Goldman Sachs providing market liquidity.

IMHO, one of the largest threats to fiat currencies are competing fiat currencies.

My guess is that we have yet to see the bigger downturn in Gold. Like most markets the real selling comes with the second leg down when those folks praying for a recovery (often with leveraged positions) panic when the recovery does not happen as planned. There are a lot of reasons Gold should be $1,250 to $1,300 an ounce; mostly because that's about what it costs to produce in today's market and it is, after all, a commodity.

I think Erdude (The ER that flies out of NYC, not the diploma store in Daytona Beach) got aggravated at some stupid things his Captain(s) said and figured the fix was to take the issue to HR. Most pilots think HR most resembles a lobotomized Pit Bull on whatever Charlie Sheen takes to manage his tiger blood condition.

W T F is a pole smoker?:eek:

ask a male flight attendant if you can smoke his pole. That should provide your answer. :D

It's what you hope your wife/GF is.....

First of all, thank you erdude for recognizing that pro-stan is the way to go if you want to go to someone about the issue.

Second, very well put, Bar.

Third- If you do have an issue, and do go to HR, you will only be hurting your cause, and not helping it. Nothing will create a reputation faster than writing someone up (not the good kind of reputation and adding negative awareness for your cause) . While likely not very comfortable from your perspective, the thing that would get the most positive response would be to confront the CA's that stated these things. That shows backbone and would not further any stereotypes they may have. Going to HR would have been direct reinforcement of being fickle and emotional. Considering that these captains have made these statements, you obviously don't fit in the "flaming" category, which many find quite annoying. Not because of the sexual connotation (at least not me, I don't care what you're trying to bang), but because of the overemotional behaviors involved. I may make a comment about a stew here and there, but that is due to annoying overemotional behavior and not limited to male or female.

We very likely have a mutual friend or two, as the world of gay pilots is very small. You're obviously a cool dude as you put up with our underboob and such on here. I'm sure it will get better with time, but also understand the career field you've signed up for. It's a bunch of Type A OCD people. There are going to be a few gems here and there everywhere who are obnoxious- that's why the tool of the day thread was started.

My lawn mower has a vertical crank shaft which gets pumped by pistons very hard and regularly as a result of hot, expansive, gasses. If not properly lubricated, the thrust bearing could get really hot, as it grinds away against the shaft causing spalling. The first visible objective indication of impending failure would be smoke.

Therefore anyone who closely mows their wife's lawn without proper servicing of their tools before use might end up smoking a pole.

At least that's what I think he was talking about.

Home Depot, F150 ... make that a 350 Diesel with a tow package ... ahem.

Can somebody summarize this recent exchange in a few bullet points? I don't have the desire to read the whole thing... yup... I'm lazy today.

Oh Wait ... you are an ER Captain, aren't you?

In that case, we are definitely discussing small engine maintenance.