Derek 2.0

August, you're citing the very conversation that I did........

Right, but those examples, like the F-22 (or the F-35), generated interest (and debate) in the public sphere, so the showcasing of US defense technology internationally has merit, namely with US defense partners.........

This is true, but it also comes down to marketing. The F-22 is currently the only 5th generation fighter in service, so its use as a technology demonstrator to the public of a partner nation, that is a co-member in NORAD and in the development of the before mentioned F-35, only makes sense.......much the same reason that it will also perform in South Korea this year......

I figured as much, hence my first reply to your OP.........in essence, the USAF isn't so much as doing better, but is being forced to find actual savings elsewhere......binning airshow demos didn't save them that much money, and is more a threat aimed at creating public backlash, much like threats here involving cutting the Snowbirds or the RCMP Musical ride.

To a degree, but more of an observation as to if we're in decline as a society.

Right, but what was your intent? I'm sure the F-22 will perform well and be popular among the crowds, likewise in the near future, the F-35 (namely a STOVL F-35B), or in previous years, the F-117 and for those old enough, the SR-71........a clear testament to the Lockheed Skunk Works, which have been developing aircraft for decades, that have entertained millions over the years at the Abbotsford Air Show....... By far my two most favorite aircraft performances at the air show over the years, were in the later 70s, with the SR-71 and the RAF Vulcan bombers....honorable mention to the various historic flights over the years that provided Sea Furys, Spitfires, Mustangs, Corsairs and Skyraiders......

Provide a facet of sea deniability to a potential foe, far cheaper proportionally then surface ships and aircraft.

Ahh, but how is said society kept secure? Society - politican =

Right, but without the State, without a doubt, we'd be tossing our collective crap at each other......So what is the better alternative, devolving the State and allowing the inmates to run the asylum? In my view, our current place is the best possible outcome. Ahh, but what is the crossover point between free speech and the "thought police"? That is the question.....at what point does free speech become the proverbial yelling of "fire" in a crowded theater?

So you revert back to a dated article........despite the fact, in the present day, such issues have been resolved.......Like I said, you have nothing to support your baseless claim that issues still remain with the F135. So until you can start to back-up your baseless rantings, I see no value in responding to your further.

Did you read your source? And now, said restrictions have been lifted........like I was saying. Also, nowhere in the piece is their any indication that there still remains problems with the engine.......so do you have a source confirming your claim that problems with the engine still remain or are you just making stuff up?

And you know this how?

Better off then where we were........several decades ago, if the "State" said keep several weeks worth of vital supplies in your basement or ensure your children get all their booster shots, by the majority this advice was heeded......Today, an equal amount of voice will claim such advice as polt to put us into FEMA camps or poison our children....... With unfiltered information, also comes lack of accountability.......if a segment of the malleable masses follows the bad advice of an unaccountable "blogger" over a Government health advisory, because the blogger had more "views" or "retweets" or a slicker facebook, are we as a society better off? Now, I feel, every idiot can have a soap box regardless of validity........clearly those intelligent enough can make use of increasing sources of information and determine which info is valid and false......but what of the unwashed masses?

Your're mixing up last years headlines And of course, none of the three IOCs have been pushed back, with the F-35B entering full service this Summer.

Why not? As already pointed out to you, all flight restrictions have since been lifted......of course, with the USMC, like previous Harrier demos, the "show" is its STOVL attributes.

That's not true, the F-35 resumed airshows appearances last Fall........

In itself, can it not be said the information media industry does not manipulate the message to its own end? I'm not speaking to evolving technology as a whole, of that I do agree it is an overall benefit to us. My point though, are we better off as a society with vast amounts of unfiltered, and often incorrect, information, when most are unable to judge its merit?

The Thunderbirds and Blue Angles resumed their performance season last year, after the 2013 sequestration groundings. In the scheme of things, it was felt the public relations and outreach returned to the US military was more than worth the relatively small costs of operating the teams. Of course, both teams seasons were cut by 40-50% and funds will have to be found from someone's rice bowl. For example, the USAF will save far more money by reorganizing various smaller squadrons into larger squadrons (as was done recently with several C-17 squadrons) or attempting to retire older aircraft types (the A-10). Likewise the USN, which by the end of they year, will have retired the last of the manpower intensive OHP frigates, putting a portion of the cruiser fleet in reduced operating status or slowing the production of the littoral combat ship.

Sure, but at what point does too much mistrust result in a society all adorning tin-foil hats? But are more people paying attention? Without a doubt, but before, it was easier to convey important information.......are we actually better off that now the "stupid masses" are overloaded with more confusing information? Right, but does further reliance make us more vulnerable to collapsing as a civil society without such technology? Why though?

And further news on the class: Despite their troubled careers, both in British and Canadian service, the class is finally operational..........ready to be replaced in the next 15 years.

I fully agree, look no further than lawless regions throughout the World or the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.....or the brutality of ISIS etc. Without a doubt, John Locke believed civilized man could govern him/herself, even so, without the appearance of government control and rule of law, we'd be flinging our poop at each other....In a sense, Thomas Hobbes was correct, and in modern society, we've replaced the absolute Monarch with President or Prime Minister, ceding our natural rights in exchange for a guarantee that is ultimately to most of our benefit. I think its a reflection of the culture of the information age.......Now the monolithic State needs to dumb down information that is to our benefit........Are we better off with the state requiring to cut information with pseudo pop-culture? Several generations ago, the State could tell its citizens it is to their benefit to have food/water/medicine on hand in the event of a disaster and this was accepted as gospel. Now, we need fantasy interjected with reality to have this message delivered....... Are we, as society, better off for this? Without a doubt. Is a further reliance upon technology actually going to be a net-benefit to us is my question......Will we get to a point when we need an App to tell us when to eat, drink, sleep and breath? In turn, will this further dependence also weaken our ability to survive without information-technology? Could it be said that Government controls placed upon information are actually to our benefit in the end?

....In case you were wondering: Pop-culture meets epidemic modeling. Interesting (and smart) of Cornell to jump on the Zombie bandwagon to further the exposure to epidemic modeling, the science behind predicting how diseases both spread and their potential size & scope, and of course, how to control epidemics. I think using "zombies", instead of Ebola, HIV/AIDS or the common flu, will receive greater attention from the general public versus more realistic traditional press releases or published papers......that nobody outside of healthcare professionals read or heed today. Case in point, several years ago the American CDC launched their own Zombie pandemic page....through the use of pop culture and tongue-cheek humor, the CDC was able to convey to millions the importance of having ones own household "zombie survival kit", that could also be used in the event of an Earthquake or Tornado etc..... ----- My question, is this an indictment of what our society has actually become? In that, decades ago, the Government under the auspices of public safety, could convey knowledge and advice and "the people" listened, be it "duck and cover", getting vaccinated for a disease or AIDS/Drug awareness etc....Now, as a society, do "the people" really require a spoonful of pop-culture laden sugar to help the medicine go down? Have we become the zombies? In my mind, if not for the appearance of (Government) control, we truly are separated between a fine, fragile, line between modern, civilized society (or what we have today) and Darwinism writ large.......

Our tap pressures (in Southern BC) are maintained by pumps..........

It appears that the bulk of the reservoir is naturally sourced, but is supplemented by pumped ground water in Summer months.....

I think you're missing the point......your domestic household pressure will decrease with extreme loads, likewise a larger city size system. This is why your hot water tank (is suppose to) has a vacuum breaker. If it didn't, and a negative pressure was to incur in the city system, like from broken water-main or the fire department using several hydrants, your household supply would be reversed and your hwt would be sucked dry and implode like a pop can. Like the reason as to why large facilities, farms, factories etc are required to have large backflow devices, to prevent a backflow of potentially contaminated water into the public system, caused by a sudden reduction in pressure, which can create a backflow. Of course the point is moot, as the designers themselves of the pipe have clearly stated, it can only be used on gravity systems....