13) Right, and the DOD pays 600 dollars for hammers and 800 dollars for toilet seats. I would say the bar owner saw they were drunk, knew the gov't was footing the bill, and added more to the bill than what they actually drank.
The reason those items are so expensive is because the DOD writes a detailed specification for them that requires extensive testing to prove that the items meet the spec. Why, instead of just going to the hardware store? Because DOD engineers need to justify their jobs and salaries.
Hey Nemo. I appreciate your input. I'm sure that's part of it but unless they're redesigning those every other day and even then it still wouldn't cost that much. Somebody (cough oligarchs) are padding their pockets.
I used to specify hardware as a mechanical designer/engineer, and it is more complicated than it appears. First of all, the quantities purchased are often small, as opposed to commercial/consumer products. Second, the environment in which the parts are used plays a major part, and if used in multiple environments can really drive up the cost. Salt water/ocean air is one thing, but if a part also has to function at high altitude or in space, that's an enormous cost for the coating, testing and certification. Specialty coatings can be extraordinarily expensive and difficult to apply; that is one reason that China is still quite a way behind us. Most of their products don't use SOTA finishes and coatings, even their high end products. For one client, we bought certain fasteners and applied proprietary coatings that cost some ridiculous figure for each item, but when applied in quantity, allowed consistency that could be documented and charted. I've specified common screws that normally cost pennies each, but with the required longevity, small production runs, and certifications, end up costing upwards of a hundred dollars each. There is a lot of fraud out there, and when it goes undetected, and fails while in use, someone may die because of that. I'm conscious of the cost, being a taxpayer, but I won't go cheap if lives are at stake. I've seen some of the results from using counterfeit parts because someone wanted to save some bucks. Not for the squeamish.
Well Plague, I'm sure you are a very intelligent person as most are that visit this site. I am also sure you are familiar with the term Economies of Scale. So, how many of those hammers were produced? What I'm getting at is if there were only 500 hundred produced since they are such a specialized item, then the DOD would only have to cough up at $600 dollars a piece $300,000 dollars. I don't have the figures here so I have to wonder the true amount they paid. If you get a chance check out some of Catherin Austin Fits' video's on YouTube (if they're still there).
Plague Monk - I’ve worked in Planning/Sourcing for an aerospace company for nearly 20 years and can confirm everything you say. Low quantities mixed with high complexity and a vey limited supplier base equals ridiculously expensive parts.
Late to the party, but Plague Monk & ChaddinFL are correct about the items themselves. PM also implied other very significant costs: the labor for the documentation, testing & other process work must be amortized as well. Speaking from personal experience, the latter means that a guy you hired to do some engineering task (even software) may spend 80% of his billable time doing paperwork & the rest actually coding.
My experience is with rust inhibiting coatings. Since the mil procurers weren't experts on corrosion, they let us write up the milspec. So, of course, we designed a spec that our patented product would pass and no competitor's product could. Even if that spec included elements that were completely irrelevant to the product's intended use. Once you are sole supplier...
Agree completely on the engine bay. Sockets dropped while beside a vehicle are the ones that find the center - no matter if the surface is completely flat or sloping, they still roll to the center.
#18 "Literally everybody" No, not everybody. That's all anybody needs to hear me say about Queen. Otherwise, excellent group as always. #14 Six months, or decades. I thought "Spill the wine, dig that girl" was "Hey do I dig that girl" for decades. I'd given up on ever deciphering "Standing in the sunlight laughing, Hiding 'hind a rainbow's wall".
#9: Bikinis match (usually), and aren't worn-out or holey. Which brings to mind to old adage, 'If you get her home and her underwear matches when she takes off her clothes, it means that you're not the one who decided to have sex that night.'
#20, having worked around machinery all my life, I still don't own a HD ring and I ride. If you worked around machinery, you know what I'm talking about.
#12 The gun is the least of your worries if you hook up with her. #metoo alone can destroy your life not to mention getting divorce raped. Or should it be renamed divorced prison gang banged?
What did they black out on the chick with the shotgun?
ReplyDeleteIt's her dress blowing in the wind
DeleteSkirt?
DeleteThat's her dress billowing in the breeze.
Delete13) Right, and the DOD pays 600 dollars for hammers and 800 dollars for toilet seats. I would say the bar owner saw they were drunk, knew the gov't was footing the bill, and added more to the bill than what they actually drank.
ReplyDeleteThe reason those items are so expensive is because the DOD writes a detailed specification for them that requires extensive testing to prove that the items meet the spec. Why, instead of just going to the hardware store? Because DOD engineers need to justify their jobs and salaries.
DeleteNemo
Hey Nemo. I appreciate your input. I'm sure that's part of it but unless they're redesigning those every other day and even then it still wouldn't cost that much. Somebody (cough oligarchs) are padding their pockets.
DeleteI used to specify hardware as a mechanical designer/engineer, and it is more complicated than it appears. First of all, the quantities purchased are often small, as opposed to commercial/consumer products. Second, the environment in which the parts are used plays a major part, and if used in multiple environments can really drive up the cost. Salt water/ocean air is one thing, but if a part also has to function at high altitude or in space, that's an enormous cost for the coating, testing and certification.
DeleteSpecialty coatings can be extraordinarily expensive and difficult to apply; that is one reason that China is still quite a way behind us. Most of their products don't use SOTA finishes and coatings, even their high end products.
For one client, we bought certain fasteners and applied proprietary coatings that cost some ridiculous figure for each item, but when applied in quantity, allowed consistency that could be documented and charted.
I've specified common screws that normally cost pennies each, but with the required longevity, small production runs, and certifications, end up costing upwards of a hundred dollars each. There is a lot of fraud out there, and when it goes undetected, and fails while in use, someone may die because of that. I'm conscious of the cost, being a taxpayer, but I won't go cheap if lives are at stake. I've seen some of the results from using counterfeit parts because someone wanted to save some bucks. Not for the squeamish.
Non-ferrous tools in the bomb dump etc…
DeleteWell Plague, I'm sure you are a very intelligent person as most are that visit this site. I am also sure you are familiar with the term Economies of Scale. So, how many of those hammers were produced? What I'm getting at is if there were only 500 hundred produced since they are such a specialized item, then the DOD would only have to cough up at $600 dollars a piece $300,000 dollars. I don't have the figures here so I have to wonder the true amount they paid. If you get a chance check out some of Catherin Austin Fits' video's on YouTube (if they're still there).
DeletePlague Monk - I’ve worked in Planning/Sourcing for an aerospace company for nearly 20 years and can confirm everything you say. Low quantities mixed with high complexity and a vey limited supplier base equals ridiculously expensive parts.
DeleteLate to the party, but Plague Monk & ChaddinFL are correct about the items themselves. PM also implied other very significant costs: the labor for the documentation, testing & other process work must be amortized as well. Speaking from personal experience, the latter means that a guy you hired to do some engineering task (even software) may spend 80% of his billable time doing paperwork & the rest actually coding.
DeleteMy experience is with rust inhibiting coatings. Since the mil procurers weren't experts on corrosion, they let us write up the milspec. So, of course, we designed a spec that our patented product would pass and no competitor's product could. Even if that spec included elements that were completely irrelevant to the product's intended use. Once you are sole supplier...
Delete#10 Dropped sockets in an engine bay are rarely seen again, due to quantum wormhole dynamics, and tend to manifest as a leak.
ReplyDeleteOnly the 10mm
DeleteEspecially 10mm and 7/16
DeleteAgree completely on the engine bay. Sockets dropped while beside a vehicle are the ones that find the center - no matter if the surface is completely flat or sloping, they still roll to the center.
DeleteI'm feeling really stupid today, I don't get # 1 .
ReplyDeleteWithout the letter 'g', his name would be Anus.
DeleteI missed it too.
DeleteIt took me a minute, but finally figured it out.
DeleteMichigan Doug, glad you asked. I was almost ready to ask my wife if she got it and she never gets jokes
DeleteOh ffs, I read and looked at that damn thing for over 15 minutes and gave up.
DeleteMadMarlin
Well shit!
ReplyDeleteNothing, that's her dress!
ReplyDelete#13 It was a four hour party.....
ReplyDelete#3 The relationship must not have been that bad, the dumpster's not on fire.
ReplyDelete#4 Looks like Shrek.
ReplyDeleteExcellent group today Kenny. I want to see someone take the pooh bear away.
ReplyDeleteGreat collection, and I'm thinking #7 could also apply trucks, guns, power tools...
ReplyDelete#18 "Literally everybody" No, not everybody. That's all anybody needs to hear me say about Queen.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, excellent group as always.
#14 Six months, or decades. I thought "Spill the wine, dig that girl" was "Hey do I dig that girl" for decades. I'd given up on ever deciphering "Standing in the sunlight laughing, Hiding 'hind a rainbow's wall".
Yeah, guess I got that one wrong for the past six decades too. But heck, I'll sing it in my head any way I want to. Thanks for makin me look it up.
Delete#3: He's read the label too late. If he'd read it before climbing in he'd have known there's sweet fuck all in there . . .
ReplyDelete#9: Bikinis match (usually), and aren't worn-out or holey. Which brings to mind to old adage, 'If you get her home and her underwear matches when she takes off her clothes, it means that you're not the one who decided to have sex that night.'
ReplyDeleteYou know it’s slow on other news when even I am commenting. Also wasn’t 100% on #1. So I don’t feel too stupid.
ReplyDelete#20, having worked around machinery all my life, I still don't own a HD ring and I ride.
ReplyDeleteIf you worked around machinery, you know what I'm talking about.
#12 The gun is the least of your worries if you hook up with her. #metoo alone can destroy your life not to mention getting divorce raped. Or should it be renamed divorced prison gang banged?
ReplyDelete#12- The blacked out area under her armpit... musta had a tit hanging out.
ReplyDeleteThat's her dress and a shadow from her arm. Blow the picture up and look for yourself.
Delete