The instrument rating is only as good as the holders willingness to stay current and proficient.   Absent that, the rating is worthless.

 Countless accidents have happened where the pilot had an instrument rating, was not proficient or current, and turned into a smoking hole.

 The average GA airplane is not well equipped for actual low IFR environments and operations.  A single source vacuum, or a single attitude indicator can turn deadly quick.   Sure, pilots train for partial panel, but in reality a partial panel low IFR approach is beyond most capabilities.

I strongly disagree. I received my IR 9 years ago, but haven’t been current in 5 years (since I started flying warbirds.)  so I can’t and won’t fly in IMC until I get an IPC and go beyond to get proficient again.

However, the discipline in flying at known pitch/power settings, stabilized approaches to landings, holding headings and altitudes, assessing Wx, comfort in radio communications, comfort in night flying, unusual attitudes, even steep turns and other VFR maneuvers are ALL benefits from getting the IR rating.

Bottom line is it made me a much better pilot. It also gives me options that simply don’t exist if you don’t have your IR (and can become current and proficient.)  If Im going on a long trip, I’m getting Current and proficient in IMC before I launch on a long XC. A VFR-only pilot doesn’t have that option.

When I was a kid most cities were badly polluted, the Cuyahoga river caught fire, Lake Erie was dead and so was the Chesapeake.  Air and water quality are way, way better, and yes you can thank the EPA and related legislation.  You can thank govco for your national parks, all of which were proposed for development by industrialists.  Horrors like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire are history because of workplace regulations.  Boy could I go on.

You sound like the Union proponents who look back to the child labor days for their continued justification, when they really have outlived their usefulness, especially in the public sector.


“No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!”

Ronald Reagan

I'll need it.  Going through Rod Macho's book right now.  I get to download and install an update for the GPS next week.

Enjoy it. I really liked getting my IR. I did a lot of my training at night which really helped (no shadows on the panel like when you’re under the hood in the daylight.). Try to get as much actual IMC as possible with your instructor. It’s a LOT different than being under the hood.

This seems to be a pattern. A real problem is identified and efforts to combat it are made. 90% of it is solved. But to address the last 10% requires infinite amounts of money and other costs (such as loss of freedom). For some reason we are never satisfied with 90% solved, we shoot for 100% and in the process create all kinds of unintended consequences that end up making everything worse. Besides that, anyone given power eventually abuses it.

That last 10% provides perpetual job security for anyone hired to try to accomplish it.

That’s just silly. The competition should be judged by people who are skilled and knowledgeable about dancing. Otherwise it’s just a popularity contest.

Ok, I’ll admit I watch it with my wife. I started a few years ago when I quit watching the NFL including MNF.

As Anthony said, some of the pro women dancers are quite hot. Though when I start predicting the scores (that will be a 9,8,9) my wife will look at me like “seriously?”  Lol.

As for Spicer, the OP is correct. The judges are getting visibly upset. I’ve seen this before but I forgot who the celeb was, but the celeb kept moving on even though he was the worst dancer. I think it was the awesome comedian Bill Engvall.

Anyway, to answer your question, the audience gets to text in votes for their favorite couple. This year they changed it up so that while the audience still votes, they take the bottom two and let the judges to decide who goes home.

The problem is that Spicer hasn’t been in the bottom two, so in those weeks he’s not at risk of being eliminated, so they have to send one other couple home.

I swear I think Conservatives are trolling DWTS by voting en masse for Sean Spicer.  Funny as hell!

You realize that article is almost two weeks old.  Perhaps Trump doesn't think he needs to advertise his upcoming strategy so the enemy knows what is coming, like Obama did.

Exactly. Trump was spot on for not yapping to Pelosi and Schitt about the mission to kill the head of isis.

I would correct it - not side stepping, but yes minimizing.  I am more concerned about people losing faith in the law and therefore the Republic than I am about the abuse of power from these individuals.

The number of these people who make up the “swamp” is actually very small.  Yes, theses few have power and need to be dealt with by using their own law against them; they have a great deal at risk when they are exposed.  They also have handcuffs on them because if they overstep their boundaries, they lose everything. That is their weakness.

Until some of these senior people start going to prison for long periods of time, faith in the law will continue to diminish at a rapid pace. At the federal level, very, very few people ever pay the price for their autocratic and illegal behavior.  See Lois Lerner, et. al. 

As for the size of the swamp, you’ve got to be kidding me. 

The top three wealthiest counties in the US surround Washington DC.  Government is big business, and business is doing well for those people directly and indirectly sucking at the teat of the bureaucracy.

The swamp is more pervasive than anyone  can even imagine.