u/Conscious_Skirt_61

For most of my long life I’ve heard politicians default to a talk about “waste, fraud and abuse.” It’s such a mainstay of the speech circuit that reporters make fun of the line. We’re all told that yes, the grift is real, but it’s just a rounding error in the grand scheme. Sure, prosecute it, plug it, pontificate about it as much as you want. But it doesn’t really matter and nothing will really change.

The DOGE sideshow gave us a hint that some real serious numbers might be at play. Then the USAID audit and the “money overboard” attitude in the last weeks of Biden showed that billions were really on the table. Now the “Learing Center” fiasco and the California hospice scandal show that gigantic sums are at stake.

So is it practical to lower federal outlays in light of these discoveries? Or is it business as usual, with bad actors and bad uses treated as just talking points and not really worth pursuing?

Leadership meetings and annual event planning just got underway for our boys. So let me throw out a Get Started question on Derby design.

Our Pack recently bought a new gate and timing system. As a result we modified the track itself. The new run is a little lower and a lot longer: some old cars we tested didn’t have enough inertia to make the final gate.

What experience do others have with a long, flat run-out? Clearly, friction control will be at a premium. The car will have to maximize potential energy during a short downhill and preserve momentum on the flat. What practical tips are at play here?

In past contests I’ve seen weights kept low and 3/4” in front of the rear axle to work out best. I assume, but don’t know, that a low and rear center of gravity still works. But that’s just my guess: could be that more height or a more forward CoG would work better in these conditions. What weight placement design is optimal for long, low tracks?

BTW my Bear Scout is going all Elon Musk on this. He has visions of cybertrucks dancing in his head and on graph paper. The local library has equipment to make cuts so I’m just planning to be there to help keep him from sawing himself. But hope to point him towards something effective as well as (in his eyes) beautiful.

Thanks in advance, and GLTA.

As we all know there are “Tough on Crime!” jurisdictions and “Tougher! on Crime!!” jurisdictions. Here’s an irl issue in a Toughest on Crime! and Proud of It!!!” place.

Defendant charged with possession of fentanyl. Nine months old (the case, not the Defendant — poor comedy here). Content not tested yet. From experience a lab will certify anything in the lockup as being whatever is charged. And as a practical matter, cross-contamination is so common that the outside — forget the inside — of collection bags are sure to have the chemical of choice on them. Along with the dread disease d’jour. Plus Ebola, no doubt. And pinkeye.

Any useful strategies for presenting? (Obviously a state not federal case though the fed lab has its own peculiarities). Any fun war stories as to lab techs, OCs or elected trial judges?

Runners on 2 and 3, two outs. Grounder to 3B. R3 touches home; 3B tags R2; 3B fires to 1B ahead of Batter.

Does run score?