M2

I've got a MotherLoad in black... I think I paid about $125 for it at the BX, MSRP off Camelbak's web site is $169. The sucker is huge and carries a lot of crap, and it is a very comfortable backpack when it has to be worn for extended periods of time. It can haul "over 2100 cu. in. (35 liters) of gear and 100 ounces (3 liters) of water" according to their web site. However, I have been looking at a BFM, due to its addition 7 liters of carrying capacity (2600 cu in) and additional outside pockets. I have to carry a lot of "stuff" (I usually carry an extra bag as well) and the BFM might hold it all. The BX also sells them for around $150, whereas CamelBak lists them for $199. In case anyone hasn't clued in yet, buy them at the BX! AAFES on-line does not carry them, you get redirected to Brigade Quartermasters, who have the ML but not the BFM. They also list a "military price" which is cheaper than retail, but you must access their web site through CentricMall to get it. I really like the design and capabilities of the ML and BFM. They are well-built packs and will probably outlast me. The one thing I don't like is the ML tends not to stand up on its own when set down, it carries a lot of weight midway up the pack or higher, so the COG causes it to fall over. That only sucks as it gets set down in some dirty places, and then the whole pack is covered in crap. But the only way I can figure out to fix that would be some sort of internal frame, which would only add weight and reduce carrying capacity; so I just live with it, it is really a minor issue. But I gotta admit, bags fall into the Cool Gadgets category of things I am always on the hunt for! Cheers! M2

USAA. Period. Cheers! M2

Beats living in the present sometimes, plus I sure as hell revived this thread, didn't I? Cheers! M2

More cowbell Cheers! M2

chief Haven't been to Belgium lately, have you? I remember when I first got there in 2002, I was sitting at a stoplight in Brussels on my motorcycle and watched a huge passenger plane fly overhead from Zaventem (the Brussels international airport). I was thinking about how easy it would be to crash an airliner into the heart of the "European Capital," but then I looked arounda at all the people on the sidewalks and they were all of Middle East origin and most likely Muslim. As we all recently saw, France is having a big problems with Muslim youth with the recent riots, and I can tell you from firsthand experience that they are a large minority there, mostly from the Middle East and North Africa. Honestly, I was surpised it hasn't happened earlier. It may have, and we haven't heard about it or it was never figured out. Cheers! M2

As requested... Actually, Burns looks human in comparison with Dic...errr..."Doc" Cheers! M2 [ 25. November 2005, 16:48: Message edited by: MajorMadMax ]

Gee, I kinda miss Doc! :rolleyes: At least with every bullet so far! Seriously, I would love to go to his retirement ceremony, just to see that SOB go! I have just had to endure too many AFN commercials and other BS, and I wasn't even assigned to USAFE! At least BB, the other clown prince of the European theater, was a pretty good guy in real. He read a book to my son's second grade class and they had a lot of fun. Fogelnuts, on the other hand, is a complete and utter asshole through and through, and the fact that the zero hours of combat assclown ever made it past major (much less to GO rank) typifies what is completely wrong about the USAF today. To think that SOB actually thought he should have been the CSAF, was a ****ing moron! God help the folks of West Virginia, but as least I don't have to see his wrinkly on AFN anymore, nor his Jabba the Hutt wife! I have never seen such a huge fraud, waste and abuse go unchecked as that asshole wasting the time and dollars to put his ugly mug on TV. Did I mention I don't like the guy?!? :D Cheers! M2

Doc! M2

A lot of Central European (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, etc) women are good looking when they are young... The problem is very few of them stay that way once they start to age... Cheers! M2 [ 23. November 2005, 16:11: Message edited by: MajorMadMax ]

A blast from a few years ago...loads of wisdom throughout...and as we all have to do at least one staff job some day, my advice to you is "Learn it. Know it. Live it." (I'm the full hot orator!) Enjoy! M2

OK, so it's been a while, and I am not going to blast anyone for not using the search function; but we did have this discussion a while back...still, it is a good topic to revive every now and then! Right now I am reading From USAF Blue to Corporate Gray, out of necessity... Cheers! M2

I heard Rain was moving to Hondo to teach IFS! Cheers! M2

The Red Cross can really expedite things in situations such as these... Cheers! M2

right back at ya, Boomer! Cheers! M2

That's kind of like the "dutch oven" (aka "covered wagon"), which is a fun trick you can play on your wife in the morning.

Linda We used to call that game 'Turtle'...the first person to roll a window down loses. Great for the I-10 run to San Antonio (1100 miles of cruise control)...my kids are champions at it! :rolleyes: Cheers! M2

What's the deal with 'Howdy'?

Hacker I think gtyj98 (WTF does that mean anway?) was being facetious... Cheers! M2

I doubt he would keep any of that crap, the first thing any sane person would do is dump it! There are some Ramstein bubbas here in Stuttgart for this exercise, they are wearing those "Bring Your Courage" bozo hats. I suspect there will be a mass burning of that shit once the change-of-command has taken place! I read a rumor a while back that Doc is thinking about running for govenor for West Virginia...you'd think those people would know better, but apparantly they haven't been subjected to all of his AFN commercials. It is one nice thing about being billeted off base in Germany...no ****ing "All Fogelsong Network!" Cheers! M2

By the way, isn't it nice that the S&S refers to Hobbins as "the AF's tech chief" when he is a command pilot with more than 4200 hrs, primarily in fighters... :rolleyes: Cheers! M2

From today's Stars & Stripes... Hobbins was the USAFE/DO back in the late 90's...I can't recall too much about him but I don't think he was too bad of a dude. Of course, anyone would look good after Doc... Cheers! M2

The pea soup/beef stew trick is straight out of The Great Santini (which is an excellent book for you young guys or anyone who has only seen the movie with Robert Duvall). As for prop wash, that is older than I am! Same goes with sending someone out to find a yard of flightline or giving them a 10-amp fuse and telling them to take it to the machine shop to have it cut into two 5-amp fuses. Apparently urban legend has it one lieutenant tagged with that one disappeared for several hours and returned with two 5-amp fuses! Cheers! M²

I ate lunch at an AAFES snack bar today... You all know the rest. Cheers! M2

Bender Only problem is, that pic doesn't need a caption! Cheers! M2

Oh shit, you are in for a great assignment! You have the Dolomite mountain range right there, and the food is excellent. I've only been there TDY on a few HAWK LIGHTNING exercises, and we even stayed in tents one time (this during the build-up to ALLIED FORCE); but it was still a blast. I would recommend leaving your American car/truck back in the States as the Italians drive like maniacs (you'll learn the concept of "nose") and insurance will probably eat you alive. Consider buying a local car (there are some cool ones), but bear in mind Italian mechanics aren't the best in Europe! You scored, nice job! Cheers! M2