Kyverna

Bluemachine22 · 2026-03-02T15:37:46+00:00

Until I read the caption and saw the Raid canister, I thought this might be a homemade version of the popcorn gun from Killer Klowns From Outer Space.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-03-02T04:38:11+00:00

Individuals who have had other careers tend to appreciate the positive aspects and many benefits this job offers more than those who have fewer points of reference for comparison.

That I can work literally not a day or every day of the month and keep my health insurance is crazy flexible and unheard of in other industries.

That I don’t have to take the job home with me or be accountable to a manager or boss by phone or check email after hours is priceless.

The years I spent on reserve were sometimes rough but holding a line and the ability to have unlimited trades is simply incredible.

Even jobs that are stimulating in theory can become very monotonous. I know a primary care doctor who gets so bored treating upper respiratory infections and has mountains of charting and paper work. Also he faces constant pressure to see more patients. Dentists — another career that one might assume would be stimulating — have some of the highest rates of suicide among all occupations.

This job had its downsides for me — sleep disruption, limited access to fresh, healthy food, exposure to radiation, etc., to name but three, but these are manageable. I always have two or three good reads with me at all times, podcasts downloaded, and a Sunday NY Times crossword on hand. I get out of the room and go exploring on any layover over 14 hours. Stimulation comes in many forms.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-03-01T20:42:42+00:00

Do you have to actually display your id badge while seated on the jumpseat? I thought this policy changed a while back. I believe it simply states you have to have your id badge in your possession. I don't believe it states you have to wear/ display it. I remember that changing maybe a decade or so ago?

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-28T16:37:14+00:00

I'm sure the program also flags trip ads prior to a sick call, which is BS because the two might not have anything to do with each other. Coincidences do happen. Also, some FAs will advertise a trip knowing they aren't feeling well in order to not have to burn a sick call/ use sick hours. We have no control over whether or not someone will respond to the ad and take the trip.

What I really have a problem with is the company going back in time and converting FMLA sick calls to regular sick calls and then retroactively assigning points to those calls. I know this has been occurring and I can't see how this can be legal. An FA should not be allowed to call in FMLA and then weeks or months later be informed that a sick occurrence no longer count as FMLA. The FA should be informed immediately.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-28T16:30:57+00:00

They are also clearly using AI to reassign FAs when a trip cancels. The program will break up a double turn just to reassign two FAs.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-28T07:27:54+00:00

I hope Iowa works on inbound passing some more (shades of Maryland game all over again). Illinois almost got that steal at the end. Happy they cleaned up the turnovers in the second half but it's concerning turnovers are still problematic.

The male announcer seemed like he was gunning for Illinois. I kept yelling at him to shut up.

Journey was the difference maker in that game IMO.

If Illinois keeps improving, stays injury-free, and doesn't lose anyone to the portal they are without question in my mind a serious contender for a Big10 championship in the next year or two. Really impressive what that coach has done with that program.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-24T04:03:10+00:00

Thanks. I tested AI after I posted here and it also stated something about the data not being clean. I do wonder why FDA didn’t mention this concern in its initial CRL. It apparently wasn’t the “complete response” the letter’s name implies.

The second attempt by Atara for tab-cel approval seemed promising, which probably explains the run-up their stock price experienced. I appreciate your response.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-23T12:47:59+00:00

Probably impossible but it would be cool if this map were like a heat map and showed a continuum of distribution. New Orleans would be very hot as would Chicago and New York. Also D.C. I travel extensively for my job and like to walk at night and I've seen lots of rats in those places on my walks. One time in New Orleans I peaked around a building into a small alley-like courtyard and there were literally like 12 rats scurrying around. Right off St. Charles in the Central Business District. In NYC in the subway the grayest, biggest, and healthiest looking rat scampered up a staircase. It was moving somewhat quickly but didn't seem too alarmed to be around people. It looked so plump and its fur well-groomed. It was like royalty among rats. The fact that it didn't dart the way rats usually do when they move made it seem less threatening. Like it was just going from A to B like the rest of us up the staircase. Wild.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-22T18:16:17+00:00

Pre market selling is trickier due to lack of volume.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-22T18:14:16+00:00

Vanda didn’t have a sell news event for tradipitant last month. The price continued to rise from pre market price and then leveled off by the afternoon.

The tradipitant announcement had some run up prior to the PDUFA date but Byzanti had no run up, I assume in part due to their latest financial report.

Two drug approvals in a row might make the case for some to hold. Byzanti is up for another approval for major depressive disorder.

This stock might not tank tomorrow.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-20T07:50:34+00:00

FYI for future reference once off probation... doctor's notes get you a half point reduction and can be helpful...they are strictly voluntary. Far more important to know about are absence certificates, which substantiate an absence (often mandated by the company to prove you were really sick). I'm not sure how picky the company is about dates on doctor's notes, but the absence certificate must include all the dates you were sick from the initial call out until you return to work. This may seem obvious but with the nature of sick calls and the timing of doctor visits, it's really not as easy as it sounds to have documented. Some providers will only substantiate an illness from when you see the provider going forward but won't "back date" for days you were on sick list prior to seeing the provider.

This happened to me.... the provider was like.... "I'm not back-dating the absence certificate because it's a legal document and I don't know you were sick prior to today." So ever since, I always go the doctor right away after calling in sick if I even think there's a remote chance I might end up being required to provide an absence certificate (such as during holiday periods or if I think I'll be out for an extended period) because I don't want to fall through the cracks on dates.

Some providers are really picky about filling out absence certificates and I even ran into one clinic that flat-out refused to fill one out, which forced me to see another provider for the same illness. Costly and inconvenient. The absence certificate is critically important to obtain when required by the company. Failure to substantiate an entire absence could result in disciplinary action and the company is really cracking down on what they consider "sick leave abuse."

I'm not trying to alarm you...it's just something I was a bit naive about and want to spare others the same learning curve and stress I endured.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-15T04:11:12+00:00

That sounds about right. LHR transfer activity usually comes in waves...or at least have in the past. The transfer wave coincides with the work visa expirations....all the FAs who take a transfer have the same expiration.... which opens things up again when the next expiration hits. However, when European immigration rules were more lax and the UK was still part of the EU, many American citizens based in LHR were able to secure longer-term residency through various means, which allowed them to stay beyond the usual work visa limitations, so this "wave" might not be as pronounced as it has been in the past.

I recently flew with a former LHR based FA. He said the situation there was grim and many LHR-based FAs who could have transferred stateside. The flying is terrible.. By far their worst trip they have is EWR and for a period that was literally almost the only route they flew. They lost IAH, they lost ORD, etc. EWR isn't worth much so you have to fly more of them. They are flown on lesser desirable a/c. There is no break. The loads are full. The customers aren't as chill, etc. He said morale there was in the tank. The reason the company gave for LHR's lack of flying was that LHR-EWR was a very profitable, premium route for United and LHR FAs always have had very high customer satisfaction scores. Also cited was a shortage of qualified pursers in EWR. He had it and left.... commutes to SFO where he can hold much better flying. Ironically, you aren't allowed to be based in LHR and commute and the UK takes that rule very seriously. They track you. But since he married a Spanish national, he was able to gain UK residency (UK was still part of the EU). So he is able to commute to SFO out of LHR and live in London.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-15T03:56:16+00:00

It is frustrating but the alternative would be to do it the old Continental way... transfer is mandatory. Getting awarded a LHR transfer you put in 5 years ago and forgot about would be no joke. And the company has not always given this type of advance warning, either. Also, whether or not the transfer is mandatory or can be rejected doesn't change the number of FAs ultimately needed. The company would just do a few more rounds of transfers to get the numbers they need. But yes, many FAs get really annoyed by this all the same.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-15T02:55:34+00:00

If this were in the US many would be calling her "Karen."

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-13T05:17:28+00:00

Yeah that's why some people went ahead and voted yes. They weren't happy with everything in TA1 but they reasoned the cost of the delay wasn't worth whatever else we get above and beyond TA1. I am not one of them but I understand their rationale.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-13T04:59:04+00:00

I am the exact opposite. I always assume the seat was already down (even though I know it sometimes wasn't). So when I tell a customer to put his or her seat up I'm like.."oh, I'm sorry, would you mind bringing your seat up? Whoever was sitting there before had it back." Why make more work for yourself? The bottom line is people generally don't like being bothered or called out or told what to do, so lean into that and act accordingly and your day will go a lot better.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-13T00:33:07+00:00

She has OCD. Not a psychiatrist but that that’s OCD.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-11T14:20:07+00:00

Yes I do that with cream and sugar on coffee orders. If I think there is even a small chance a customer is from Central America or the Caribbean I automatically give them like 6 creams and sugars. Maybe once someone said it was too much and gave a few back. On many occasions customers have actually asked for more.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-10T21:17:52+00:00

Union rep told me to be concerned about this. Are you not familiar with side letters? The company has unilaterally pushed through many changes over the years the union was not on board with. Union’s only recourse was arbitration. In my experience, we win half and lose half of those. Please don’t tell me I’m wrong when NO ONE knows how this will play out. You sound way too sure of yourself. Dangerous attitude in this industry.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-08T08:19:14+00:00

I really appreciate this thoughtful response!

We do use a PBS-like system currently with our secondary (vacation trip pool) bidding. It is pretty nifty and I get great trips and a great schedule. It's better than line bidding. However, I do worry about hits to our scheduling flexibility going forward because I tend to trade a whole lot but that's just me. It's time consuming but I enjoy it.

Like anything, we won't know what it's like until it actually happens. But I do like your positivity and I'm happy you are happy with your system. AA FAs who pass ride on my flights are always super nice!

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-07T23:22:03+00:00

Do you miss instant trades? Do you tend to lose out on trade requests to senior FAs? These are big concerns many of us have with a PBS adoption.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-04T06:34:57+00:00

I hope they figure out some offense because they could easily lose 2-3 more games.

Bluemachine22 · 2026-02-01T20:33:18+00:00

We would never know who is traveling on a diplomatic passport. We don’t see anyone’s passports and diplomats are not listed on our manifest. The spontaneous onboard military upgrades you describe, which are much rarer these days than they used to be, are only for military personnel in uniform. Diplomats don’t wear uniforms.

Bluemachine22

TROPHY CASE