The very many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXVIII

[SS-18 ICBM]

Question for the United Statesians: you guys get Friday off, right?

 

[Farm Boy]

Generally, yes.

 

[sophie]

Question for the United Statesians: you guys get Friday off, right?

No class yes!

When I worked for the parks service that was a must-work day but we got time and a half for it.

So for most people (particularly salaried people) that's a day off. For a lot of hourly people, particularly those in the service industry, it's an all-hands-on-deck day, but should theoretically be on federally mandated holiday pay.

 

[Flying Pig]

So do you also have Saturday and Sunday off? Perhaps I should have emigrated!

 

[sophie]

So do you also have Saturday and Sunday off? Perhaps I should have emigrated!

Yes, but I believe the US has fewer mandated holidays than the UK?

Presidents, Memorial, 4th, Labor, Veterans, Thanksgiving, Christmas

did I miss any?

 

[Flying Pig]

We have eight (though we don't lose them if they're on a weekend), so I suppose you're two up for bank holidays, but fifty-two up for Fridays. Sounds like a good deal to me.

 

[Cutlass]

So do you also have Saturday and Sunday off? Perhaps I should have emigrated!

It's not too late. You might find a place in the US where your pension would go farther.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Although you might die by the time single-payer healthcare is done, so...

 

[Farm Boy]

Well, at the least he could visit the trap events at Sparta, IL or the Minnesota State High School Trap Shoot, see if he likes the vibe.

 

[gay_Aleks]

I'll try and resist not making Sparta jokes.

 

[Farm Boy]

You should see how they pronounce Cairo, IL.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Americans have the worst city names - either they take Old World ones or steal native names, which are a mess. Like Tallahassee.

 

[Farm Boy]

I like the native ones. Some actual regional personality rather than rehashed so that you have to mispronounce the hell out of them before they become unique again.

 

[gay_Aleks]

Although, once translated, they kinda lose their uniqueness. For an example, Tallahasee apparently means "old field".
Still beats stealing Euro names, tho.

 

[Flying Pig]

Well, at the least he could visit the trap events at Sparta, IL or the Minnesota State High School Trap Shoot, see if he likes the vibe.

Unfortunately, one of the side-effects of getting good at rifle shooting (at least for me) is that you lose the ability to hit the broad side of a barn with a shotgun. Suddenly, the idea of shooting without 'properly' aiming becomes a bit difficult!

 

[gay_Aleks]

Now that yot mention it, what rank did you held (or are still holding!) in the Airborne?

 

[Farm Boy]

Unfortunately, one of the side-effects of getting good at rifle shooting (at least for me) is that you lose the ability to hit the broad side of a barn with a shotgun. Suddenly, the idea of shooting without 'properly' aiming becomes a bit difficult!

Don't you just have to get back in the frame of mind that you hit the entire side of the barn at once? Don't make love to that trigger, prematurely ejaculate it?

But Minnesota instead of Illinois then. You have to hunt with slugs down here due to population density. You can use your rifle for deer season up there.

 

[Flying Pig]

My last regular rank was Major, and I'm presently a volunteer adult instructor for the Army Cadet Force, in which I hold the (essentially nominal, since I don't draw pay, and ACF officers are functionally youth workers and don't order each other around) rank of Captain - what that practically means is that I currently spend the odd weekend as a rifle shooting coach. That said, you occasionally run into problems when cadet instructors need to organise something through the regular military (eg. accommodation and meals on a training weekend, ammunition for shooting, booking range space and so on) and a self-important NCO gives them grief - in such cases, I haven't always been above 'reverting' to Maj. F Pig, PARA, to cut through the rubbish!

Don't you just have to get back in the frame of mind that you hit the entire side of the barn at once? Don't make love to that trigger, prematurely ejaculate it?

I can do target shotgun just fine - I was always good at snap shooting - because you can still do everything the same as rifle shooting, albeit a bit faster. With clay pigeon, though, you're supposed to just point it in vaguely the right direction and pull the trigger, while the rifle shooter's instinct is to draw a bead, take a couple of control breaths, and squeeze the trigger - by which point the damn thing's flown away.

 

[gay_Aleks]

And now for a final question for Major Flying Pig, did you participate in the Falklands War or at least had any duty there?

...ok I lied, there's one more question, is the name Flying Pig related to you being part of the Paratroopers?

 

[W|M]

Although, once translated, they kinda lose their uniqueness. For an example, Tallahasee apparently means "old field".
Still beats stealing Euro names, tho.

I don't know if I prefer having state capitals called ''Saviour'', ''Bethlehem'', and ''Christmas'' than having state capitals have native names which I don't know the meanings of (e.g. Cuiabá, Macapá)