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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: Today at 06:35:25 PM »

Here are some of the unclassified features:
https://theaviationist.com/2018/10/23/these-are-the-systems-that-protect-air-force-one-from-heat-seeking-missiles/
https://www.expresscomputer.in/features/7-technologies-that-make-air-force-one-the-most-feared-non-military-aircraft-in-the-world/49664/

There’s plenty more that’s classified well above all of our pay grades.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: Today at 05:07:41 PM »

…the same federal agency Trump is turning the plane over to.

What Trump promises and what Trump does are not always the same.  He says that the plane should be ready by the end of the year.   That would only be possible if he intentionally forgoes many of the safety and security measures that make a proper Air Force One.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Terrible Political Memes

« on: Today at 12:42:46 AM »

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 15, 2025, 10:38:19 PM »

The issue arises when that CEO or celebrity utilizes their workplace to give favor to that entity. As long as they are not doing that then they are free to receive benefits and make as much money as they want, and so is Trump.

Not according to the domestic and foreign emoluments clauses in the Constitution.  Why do you think that Trump went through the motions of (partially) divesting himself from the Trump Organization for his first term?  This time around he isn't even pretending.

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Flat Earth Investigations / Re: Physicist Brian Cox on Universal Acceleration

« on: May 14, 2025, 09:03:37 PM »

I'm curious about the bizarre physics that would be needed to uniformly accelerate the flat earth and all of the celestial objects.

You should probably first focus on the problem with the official model that the earth is exploding apart from itself in an unseen dimension, and that the surface of the earth is accelerating upwards through spacetime.

Einstein already figured that out.  That you don't understand it isn't surprising, a lot RE physicists have trouble understanding it too.  It's been said that if you think you understand relativity, then you don't understand relativity.

Where is the evidence for this? Your reference texts give the acceleration phenomena proofs that the earth is accelerating upwards as proof enough that this is happening, which is insufficient considering that there is another more direct interpretation.

GR is one of the most thoroughly tested theories ever, starting with the precession of Mercury's orbit and astronomical observations of gravitational lensing.  The apparent upward acceleration of the earth's surface is merely a consequence of an otherwise stationary round earth moving through the time element of curved space-time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tests_of_general_relativity

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 14, 2025, 04:37:05 PM »

If Trump is receiving money from these parties this, it is irrelevant. It's not a conflict of interest because there has been no proof that this has affected Trump's decisions in the workplace, or that there has been a clash of personal and professional interests. There are just accusations that their could be a clash.

If Trump is using his status as POTUS to further his personal financial interests, then that is absolutely a conflict of interest because he is supposed to be putting the interests of America before his own.   

Again, if you or anyone wants to give me money I would just say thanks and be on my way about it. It's not a given that I am going to owe or give you anything back.

Trump is in a position to return favors, you are not.   That’s why he’s getting lavish gifts from shady governments and big corporations while you get screwed by footing the bill to upgrade then decommission an Air Force One that probably will never be used as Air Force One.   Pray tell, why decommission it when it would make far more sense for it to serve future presidents?   Trump is trying to cut wasteful spending, isn’t he?  Maybe DOGE should take a look at this deal.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 14, 2025, 02:43:22 PM »

1. He doesn't have a new plane. If it's going to be ready in 2027, the 2028 president can use it.

Check me if I’m wrong, but Trump’s term ends in 2029.  When will the Qatari Air Force One be ready?

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 14, 2025, 01:05:47 PM »

It absolutely makes sense. It's a free plane to the American taxpayer and is going to be used for decades as a United States landmark.

But how long will it be used as Air Force One?

Thing is, the cost isn't even the worst part.  What sort of quid pro quo will Qatar expect in return for the "gift"?  This is why the Emoluments Clause says that the President may not accept such "gifts" without congressional approval.

It's only a quid pro quo if there is a pro quo. For example, if you sent me a link to redeem a $1000 Amazon gift card to my DM as a gift I would happily keep it and assume that you truly just wanted to give me a generous gift. I would give you nothing in return except for a message of thanks.

What do you think the Trump Organization’s luxury golf course in Qatar is supposed to be, if nothing less than a conflict of interest?   
https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-deal-conflicts-saudi-arabia-emoluments-7379bee2e307d39bd43b534a05ae3207

BTW, you didn’t say how long the plane would be used as Air Force One before it would be decommissioned.  Could the upgrades even be completed before the end of his term?  Do you really think that any savvy businessman would consider a reasonable return on investment for all of the required upgrades?

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Flat Earth Investigations / Re: Physicist Brian Cox on Universal Acceleration

« on: May 13, 2025, 10:36:43 PM »

Inventing bizarre physics to fit a Round Earth paradigm is the wrong approach.

This statement from someone who postulates Electromagnetic Acceleration and even has a mathematical, as yet, undefined constant named for him is beyond comical.

I'm curious about the bizarre physics that would be needed to uniformly accelerate the flat earth and all of the celestial objects.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 13, 2025, 10:29:10 PM »

It absolutely makes sense. It's a free plane to the American taxpayer and is going to be used for decades as a United States landmark.

But how long will it be used as Air Force One?

Thing is, the cost isn't even the worst part.  What sort of quid pro quo will Qatar expect in return for the "gift"?  This is why the Emoluments Clause says that the President may not accept such "gifts" without congressional approval.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 13, 2025, 05:17:13 PM »

Considering that the US Taxpayers are not even paying for this plane…

If Trump ever plans on using it as Air Force One, then the US Taxpayers will most certainly be on the hook for upgrading it to Air Force One standards, and that won’t be cheap.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 13, 2025, 12:47:55 PM »

Oh he won't care about that.  What he should care about …

Come now, we all know that he doesn’t care about a great number of things that he should care about.  You know, things like not crashing the world economy or defending the constitution.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 13, 2025, 03:07:38 AM »

Given how long it takes to upgrade a 747 to Air Force One standards, I seriously doubt that it will ever be legitimately used as Air Force One.  They might just as well hand it over to the Trump library off the bat.

It's far more likely that they won't bother upgrading or modifying it at all, and Trump will just use it as-is. Who's going to stop him?

He’ll have to wait for the upgrades if he wants to communicate on a platform more secure than Signal.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 12, 2025, 07:15:54 PM »

Given how long it takes to upgrade a 747 to Air Force One standards, I seriously doubt that it will ever be legitimately used as Air Force One.  They might just as well hand it over to the Trump library off the bat.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 12, 2025, 03:55:12 PM »

And I suppose that neither you nor Tom think that a $400 million dollar gift shouldn’t be subject to the terms of the Emoluments Clause.  You know, the clause that a president isn’t allowed to accept such valuable gifts from foreign governments without Congressional approval.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 12, 2025, 12:59:15 PM »

As POTUS, Trump gets a $400K salary so that he shouldn’t need to sell pencils. 

Also, is it really okay for him to accept a luxury 747 from Qtar?
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/trump-set-accept-luxury-747-qatar-use-air-force-one-abc-news-says-2025-05-11/

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 10, 2025, 12:45:04 AM »

Selling Trump merch is one thing.  Using meme coins to sell direct access to the president is a whole new level of corruption.
https://news.sky.com/story/us-senators-attempt-to-ban-trumps-profoundly-corrupt-crypto-schemes-13363230

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 08, 2025, 04:57:06 PM »

And thus Tom is now fully in the  "The President should be able to be corrupt if he wants to" mindset.

Well, maybe if he could do it without wreaking havoc on the economy, taking a chainsaw to government services, alienating our allies or shredding the Constitution then it might not be such a big deal.

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 08, 2025, 04:42:34 PM »

No politician should

Again, this is the issue. He's not a traditional politician, so he doesn't play by those rules. He is a television star and world famous comedic personality whose running theme is that he runs businesses and makes money, so he can get rich off of his crypto business and meme coins if he wants to.

Hmmm…  I seem to remember a whole lot controversy over some alleged corruption in the Biden family that never really panned out.  The conversation seems to be a much different with the brazen level of corruption that Trump fans seem to be applauding. 

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Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Trump

« on: May 07, 2025, 06:34:07 PM »

The buck stops literally anywhere else but here.

Incorrect.  The buck stops in his wallet.