DigDug

That's technically not legal (violates the terms you agreed to when you bought the ticket - aka their Contract of Carriage). Here's just one example for Delta (most airlines have a similar restriction - I tried a couple times): Fare Info & Ticket Rules At the bottom of that page under prohibited ticket practices: And under that same section to answer "What can they do to me?": There are a few reasons why the round trip is cheaper. Basically the airline is "discounting" your ticket because you choose to travel with them both ways rather than take a cheap one-way then a cheap "other-way" with another airline. Also, one-way tickets tend to have less restrictions (more expensive), etc... Now, what are the chances they'll actually charge you the difference if you don't use the return portion???

When commanders feel like they're losing control, that's when they tighten the reigns - making life miserable for everyone. Follow the simple orders (wearing blues on Monday is really a simple order) and don't whine (aka - voice your opposition) about it in public (I'd argue that whining here is probably appropriate). If the old man sees people defying his order to wear blues on Mondays, you can bet that the new order will be to wear blues every day you're not flying - or even worse, even on days when you're flying (change into a flight suit for the flight and back out again when you're done). I don't like blues either - but it's a simple fricking order man!! What I'm trying to say is QUIT YOUR WHINY B!TCH!ING AND PUT YOUR EFFING BLUES ON EVERY MONDAY MORNING!!!! I believe "back to basics" was the purpose of this Monday blues exercise - back to the basics of doing what the F*** you're told! Stop screwing it up for the rest of us with your pathetic defiance!!! /soapbox

Except for the PR ramifications when CNN and SOME members of congress get ahold of the fact...

CNN's top story this morning: Story Link I realize that story is USMC specific, but you can be sure all the services will react... Get ready for the safety briefing/counseling/etc $h!t-Storm!!! Just in time before I take my 2-year ERC refresher on Monday....

Like mentioned earlier - I'd stay away from the pure sport bikes. I'm not a sport bike guy (I gotta have some dirt in my diet), but I've heard many accomplished riders rave about the Suzuki SV-650 for beginners: They're relatively affordable, great motor (reliable, easy maintenance, beginner friendly power curve, etc), and hold their value pretty well (if you buy used that is). The newer ones are also available with ABS - something I think every beginner should have. If you want more touring and a more upright seating position, take a look at the Suzuki DL650, V-Strom: It's the same motor as the SV (tuned to provide more power down low -vs- revving like it's sport brother), but it's got a more comfy seat, bigger windshield, and all sorts of options for luggage for your longer trips. I know guys that ride these V-Stroms for days on end - that'd be the bike to take to Alaska from CONUS.. You can also get ABS on that bike too... It's been said before, and I'll say it again - BUY USED!!! You WILL drop the bike if you've never ridden before. You should be able to pick up either of those bikes, ride it for a couple years to get your skill level up, and sell it without taking a hit...

It's Kaliforniastan... Good luck getting a permit to carry concealed there... How does the saying go? "When guns are outlawed - only outlaws will have guns"?

If the water is already hot, why do you need to heat it?

Cycle Gear offers discounts in their stores (at least the ones I've been to), but I'm not sure about online orders (you'll have to call and ask). It used to be 10% but just this weekend I bought some stuff and they told me they upped it to 15%, but that might be because the dealers around here all offer a 15% discount on parts/gear and they had to compete.

Hard to tell, but looking at that second picture, it looks like you need a new chain - that thing looks a little rusted. Snapping a chain is a bad, bad experience...

6' tall on a TW is going to be painful for anything other than a short jaunt - just my opinion. Have you sat on one? (Find your nearest Yamaha dealer and check it out). You'll find that dual-sports are compromises and anything you get will either be good on the street or good in the dirt - but not do both very well. That's why I've got two ... The 950 is great for the street, but heavy on the dirt (I'd call it a 90/10 - street/dirt bike - but way too much bike on both for a beginner) and the 450 is tiny for the street but awesome in the dirt (10/90 street/dirt bike). If you're going to do mostly street, but want to try a graded fire road, I'd recommend the KLR-650. They've been around forever, are cheap to buy and maintain, and have better street manners than most of the dual-sports. If you don't mind less comfort on the street (wind/vibration/etc), go with the DRZ-400S and you'll have an easier time in the dirt. Check out the ThumperTalk board. They've got a pretty good dual-sport forum where you can spend hours reading opinions on bikes. Oh... and do yourself a favor and don't teach yourself (please, don't become a "self-taught" statistic)! Enroll in an MSF safety course. You'll need that course to ride on base anyways. Also, budget for some good safety gear (helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, boots, etc...)

I've got a few buddies that have or have had TW's. They're lots of fun as a little play bike. The fat back tire is perfect for sand and the low seat height is great for putzing around. It'd make the perfect bike to hang off the back of a motorhome for running to the store/cruising around camp. How big are you (height/weight) - a 200 might get old really quickly, especially on the street (you mention 80% street). What's your dirt and/or street experience like? What's your commute like (I don't think I'd enjoy the TW on any type of freeway or for any longer distances)? What type of dirt are you interested in (sand/goat-trails/graded gravel roads)? Where do you live? For $2500 you could probably find a late model (less than 5 years old) DRZ-400S that would probably be a better choice given your dirt/street percentages... It's a bit bigger (taller/heavier) but should have the power to pull you around the dirt and up to freeway speeds. Or pick up a used KLR-650 for the street (will do graded gravel and even more dirt if you can handle the weight) and a beater dirtbike (old XR-250 or something) to get your feet dirtier.

I have that same vest - seems to be pretty much what I've seen all the military guys around here use. I bought it 2.5 years ago (the orange version) and it's faded quite a bit from being used in the sun. The only complaint I have is that it doesn't breathe very well. I wear it most of the year, but when it gets hot, it makes my mesh jacket pretty much useless so I go back to the mesh road-guard vest. The pocket in the back is great for a spare set of gloves, your wallet or whatever. The ID holder works well, and there's also a zip-up pocket on the right front that'll work for a small cellphone or whatnot. I put my garage door opener in that pocket and can work it with gloves and without unzipping it - pretty nice when I get home... If you wear a backpack and want to put the vest over it, you'll need to extend the sides a little. I went to REI and bought a longer section of thin bungy-cord for each side. Works great!!!

Seriously Mom, it just followed me home from school!!! Here's my new ride: Brand new 2006 (leftover) KTM 950 Adventure... The most fun I've had on pavement!!! My other orange bike has been lonely without a big brother. That's a 2007 KTM 450 EXC - the most fun I've had off the pavement!!!

[soapbox] Ahhh.. another great example of the "Entitlement Generation" (look it up, or as the E-Gen would say "Google it") Lots of these kids have been catered to their entire upbringing... Welcome to a society (USAF flying community) where you're not longer entitled to ANYTHING.... YOU HAVE TO EARN IT!!! Just a word of advice, please don't share your "concerns" with those in your squadron - It'll follow you around for a long time. [/soapbox] Holy crap - I'm getting old!!!!!

I'm no engineer, but I'm sure there are some here that will speak up, but I think that theory is inaccurate. Sound travels in waves and the way ANR headsets work is to create waves 180 degrees out of sync with the ambient noise - thereby "canceling" the ambient noise. A +1 and a -1 equals 0. If you were getting vibrations on your eardrum, you'd hear it - that's how eardrums work. Here's a pretty good article: How stuff works