News + current events

literally everything I know about flying a helicopter has come from the past 3 minutes in this thread, but it boggles my mind that a control like that wouldn't be self-centering by default.

I already wouldn't get in one of those things, now I'm even more certain of it. Hope I never need a helicopter rescue 'cause it's gonna have to be pretty bad to be worse than the stress I'll experience getting into an aircraft that seems designed to crash.

i’ve flown the things for the last 18 years and they terrify me still.
 
Search said it's 2.7 miles round trip. Did I find the wrong one? If acclimated to the heat one should be able to do that without carrying any water. Not saying you shouldn't have water just in case, just that reasonably fit people can go 3 miles without dying of thirst, even when it's hot.

Obviously they weren't used to the heat and should have turned back sooner for that reason.
That’s the mindset that results in a trail rescue. Being in the full intense sun while climbing on hot sun baked rocks makes it even more difficult.
    • Echo Canyon Trail: Gains about 1,250 to 1,400 feet over a steep, rocky 1.2-mile climb to the top (2.4 miles round-trip).
    • Cholla Trail: Gains roughly 1,300 to 1,500 feet over a slightly longer 1.4-mile ascent (2.8 miles round-trip).
Both routes are considered strenuous and involve technical rock scrambling.
 
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https://www.azfamily.com/2026/07/13/multiple-hikers-rescued-same-trail-camelback-mountain-phoenix/

Around 10 a.m., technical rescue teams from the Phoenix Fire Department were called to Camelback Mountain’s Echo Canyon Trailhead for reports of a hiker experiencing a heat-related emergency. Crews made their way up the trail and were evaluating the man when they were notified of a second hiker in heat-related distress further up the mountain.

Team members assisted both hikers down the trail. The two men were reevaluated by paramedics at the base of the mountain and refused transport to the hospital.

After crews cleared the area, rescue teams were called back to the Echo Canyon Trailhead around 11:45 a.m. when a hiker reported he had run out of water about three-quarters of the way up the trail.

And day 2 of the same:

Overheated hiker rescued from Phoenix mountain trail​

4th rescue from same trail in 2 days​


https://www.azfamily.com/2026/07/14/overheated-hiker-rescued-phoenix-mountain-trail/


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A woman was rescued off a Phoenix mountain after reporting that she was overheated and too ill to continue down.

Rescue crews with the Phoenix Fire Department responded to the Echo Canyon Trailhead on Camelback Mountain around 10 a.m. for reports of an overheated hiker. They found the woman about a quarter of the way up the mountain and used a “big wheel” stretcher to bring her down.

The woman was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

This comes a day after three overheated hikers were rescued at the same trailhead on Monday.
 
And day 2 of the same:

Overheated hiker rescued from Phoenix mountain trail​

4th rescue from same trail in 2 days​


https://www.azfamily.com/2026/07/14/overheated-hiker-rescued-phoenix-mountain-trail/


PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A woman was rescued off a Phoenix mountain after reporting that she was overheated and too ill to continue down.

Rescue crews with the Phoenix Fire Department responded to the Echo Canyon Trailhead on Camelback Mountain around 10 a.m. for reports of an overheated hiker. They found the woman about a quarter of the way up the mountain and used a “big wheel” stretcher to bring her down.

The woman was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

This comes a day after three overheated hikers were rescued at the same trailhead on Monday.

fookin idjits

These "rescues" are a bit much, too. I bet >80% would be just fine if 1 person hiked up, handed them a golf umbrella, bottle of water and some salt pills and said, "Here. Take your time."
 
fookin idjits

These "rescues" are a bit much, too. I bet >80% would be just fine if 1 person hiked up, handed them a golf umbrella, bottle of water and some salt pills and said, "Here. Take your time."

I hope they hand them a bill
 
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/11/worst-states-to-live-in-america-2026.html

These are America’s 10 worst states to live in for 2026​


10 - Arkansas
2026 Quality of Life score:
103 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Health, Inclusiveness

9 - Oklahoma
2026 Quality of Life score:
103 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Reproductive Rights, Worker Protections

8 - Alabama
2026 Quality of Life score:
99 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Worker Protections, Health, Inclusiveness

7 - Missouri
2026 Quality of Life score:
98 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Air Quality, Worker Protections

Weaknesses: Crime, Health, Inclusiveness

6 - Utah
2026 Quality of Life score:
95 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Crime

Weaknesses: Health, Childcare, Worker Protections, Air Quality

5 - Georgia
2026 Quality of Life score:
89 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Childcare

Weaknesses: Inclusiveness, Health, Worker Protections

4 - Louisiana
2026 Quality of Life score:
89 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Reproductive Rights

3 - Indiana
2026 Quality of Life score:
82 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Crime

Weaknesses: Childcare, Air Quality, Health

2 - Texas
2026 Quality of Life score:
78 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Health, Crime, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections, Reproductive Rights

1 - Tennessee
2026 Quality of Life score:
64 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections
 
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/11/worst-states-to-live-in-america-2026.html

These are America’s 10 worst states to live in for 2026​


10 - Arkansas
2026 Quality of Life score:
103 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Health, Inclusiveness

9 - Oklahoma
2026 Quality of Life score:
103 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Reproductive Rights, Worker Protections

8 - Alabama
2026 Quality of Life score:
99 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Worker Protections, Health, Inclusiveness

7 - Missouri
2026 Quality of Life score:
98 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Air Quality, Worker Protections

Weaknesses: Crime, Health, Inclusiveness

6 - Utah
2026 Quality of Life score:
95 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Crime

Weaknesses: Health, Childcare, Worker Protections, Air Quality

5 - Georgia
2026 Quality of Life score:
89 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Childcare

Weaknesses: Inclusiveness, Health, Worker Protections

4 - Louisiana
2026 Quality of Life score:
89 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Reproductive Rights

3 - Indiana
2026 Quality of Life score:
82 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Crime

Weaknesses: Childcare, Air Quality, Health

2 - Texas
2026 Quality of Life score:
78 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Health, Crime, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections, Reproductive Rights

1 - Tennessee
2026 Quality of Life score:
64 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections

I wholeheartedly agree with this list as it will hopefully deter people from California and New York from moving to those states.

DCKLAmOvZsJcTT1SzsISG5IXE9aEMDN55_3pqFXKzmUJg&s=10.webp
 
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/11/worst-states-to-live-in-america-2026.html

These are America’s 10 worst states to live in for 2026​


10 - Arkansas
2026 Quality of Life score:
103 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Health, Inclusiveness

9 - Oklahoma
2026 Quality of Life score:
103 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Reproductive Rights, Worker Protections

8 - Alabama
2026 Quality of Life score:
99 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Worker Protections, Health, Inclusiveness

7 - Missouri
2026 Quality of Life score:
98 out of 290 points (Top States grade: D–)

Strengths: Air Quality, Worker Protections

Weaknesses: Crime, Health, Inclusiveness

6 - Utah
2026 Quality of Life score:
95 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Crime

Weaknesses: Health, Childcare, Worker Protections, Air Quality

5 - Georgia
2026 Quality of Life score:
89 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Childcare

Weaknesses: Inclusiveness, Health, Worker Protections

4 - Louisiana
2026 Quality of Life score:
89 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Reproductive Rights

3 - Indiana
2026 Quality of Life score:
82 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Crime

Weaknesses: Childcare, Air Quality, Health

2 - Texas
2026 Quality of Life score:
78 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strengths: Childcare, Air Quality

Weaknesses: Health, Crime, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections, Reproductive Rights

1 - Tennessee
2026 Quality of Life score:
64 out of 290 points (Top States grade: F)

Strength: Air Quality

Weaknesses: Crime, Inclusiveness, Worker Protections

It's funny to me that 7/10 had "inclusiveness" as a reason for poor quality of life.