M2

Not a lawyer, but I would expect the housing office to have all the answers to your questions. First of all, you would be a moron not to have some legal document drawn up concerning the agreement. They may be buds now, but when they destroy your house and scoot you will have no legal recourse without a lease. And make them give you a deposit. And of course you will have to give them the same options under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act as any other landlord, which includes cutting them loose from a lease if there is a military reason for it. If you are considering renting the property out after you leave, I would strongly recommend getting a property manager. It costs you a little, but the peace of mind is worth it. And the 10-year rule applies as a military homeowner. You have a ten-year extension to the "live in the property for three of the past five years" law when it comes to paying capital gains if/when you sell. So, in other words, if in 12 years you decide to sell, the clock backs up to ten years prior and if you lived in the property for three of the previous years prior to that date, you do not have to pay any capital gains on the profit of the sale. The tax folks will be able to tell you more about it. Just some lessons learned from owning and renting out two properties during the second half of my career... Cheers! M2

Lord Flashheart, the WW I RFC ace from 'Black Adder Goes Forth'...played by Rik Mayall (sp?), also in 'The Young Ones.' Cheers! M2

No hesitation at all in deciding...Veronica Zemanova...Google her, but not at work (unless you have the 'safe' filter on, and even then it is risky...safer to wait until you are home on your own computer). By the way, does the '1.5' apply to the hottie as well? Cheers! M2

My Nuvi 350 arrived on Friday, and I've been having fun with it all weekend. I also got the US topo maps CD, and loaded all of central Texas on it, about anywhere I have any chance of wheeling in the Jeep. Once I got MapSource loaded (the Garmin software), it was a snap. The thing is a blast, but it is a little difficult to hear the command prompts when in the Jeep with the top/doors off and the stereo blasting, but that's almost to be expected . It's just a freaking' cool gadget... Cheers! M2

Cheers! M2

Now the question is to spend the money for a traffic reciever and service subscription as to allow the Garmin to auto-reroute when there is congestion...anyone have one of these? Cheers! M2

The 60csx kick's ass, probably my next GPS purchase. It's very popular with the Jeep crowd. But my primary need is for road routing, hence the Nuvi...at least for now! Cheers! M2

I just ordered a Garmin Nuvi 350 after my bro-in-law visited for a week with his. Damn thing is really useful, even in a town where you think you know how to get around. It got us home from the Alamo on a route I have never taken, but which probably saved us 5-10 minutes over my usual route. Plus it not only tells you directions, but gives you the street names as well. That's a cool function. The GPS I had was an old Magellan Pioneer that I bought while in Bosnia nine years ago. It needed replacin'... I paid $377 for the NUvi from Amazon. I also ordered Garmin's Topo 2008 DVD for about $80, it works on the Nuvi but there are some functions that work on the City Navigator street maps that won't work on the topos, but the maps are pretty detailed and about all I need for my off-road adventures in the Jeep. My bro-in-law researches every electronic he buys to death, and GPS Magazine rated the Nuvi 350 as their #3 top GPS system (the Nuvi 680 was #1 and Nuvi 660 #2). There is also a lot of good info on buying GPS on that site, as well as some pretty extensive reviews. Be sure to read the 'What to look for in a new GPS' article. I was just wondering what GPS folks use in their cars, hiking, etc... Cheers! M2

Are you anywhere near a base? If so, you might be able to fangle you way into a slot. Call the safety office... Otherwise, you are out of luck. The USAF doesn't pay MSF instructors to teach the course, it trains them (military guys) for free and they provide the courses for everyone else. Not sure if the Navy orArmy do the same, if by chance you are closer to one of their bases... Cheers! M2

Just a few words of wisdom from BG Olds... "Anybody who doesn't have fear is an idiot. It's just that you must make the fear work for you. Hell when somebody shot at me, it made me madder than hell, and all I wanted to do was shoot back." "A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing." "Fighting spirit one must have. Even if a man lacks some of the other qualifications, he can often make up for it in fighting spirit." "There are pilots and there are pilots; with the good ones, it is inborn. You can't teach it. If you are a fighter pilot, you have to be willing to take risks." "When I took over my wing [in Vietnam], the big talk wasn't about the MIG's, but about the SAM's ... I'd seen enemy planes before, but those damn SAM's were something else. When I saw my first one, there were a few seconds of sheer panic, because that's a most impressive sight to see that thing coming at you. You feel like a fish about to be harpooned. There's something terribly personal about the SAM; it means to kill you and I'll tell you right now, it rearranges your priorities ... We had been told to keep our eyes on them and not to take any evasive move too soon, because they were heat-seeking and they, too would correct, so I waited until it was almost on me and then I rolled to the right and it went on by. It was awe inspiring ... The truth is you never do get used to the SAM's; I had about two hundred fifty shot at me and the last one was as inspiring as the first. Sure I got cagey, and I was able to wait longer and longer, but I never got overconfident. I mean, if you're one or two seconds too slow, you've had the schnitzel." "It got more exciting with each war. I mean the planes were going faster than hell when I was flying a Mustang, but by the time I got to Nam, it scared the piss out of a lot of guys just to fly the damn jets at full speed. Let alone do it in combat." Cheers, Sir! M2

'2' I hate how the Army clowns salute in PT gear. It is not a military uniform, no matter what they think. It doesn't have rank or insignia on it, it is simply gym gear. It is almost as bad as their tendency to salute higher-ranking officers even when they (the sr officers) are wearing civilian clothes...I have been told by Army bubbas it is because the officer is still an officer even in civvies. Give me a break...are their egos that fragile?!? And if you really don't want lieutenants to salute each other, than Brasso your bars so no one can tell what color they are. Cheers! M2

I am just glad I had a chance to meet and talk with him at least once in my life... Godspeed, sir. Cheers! M2

I agree, unless the rifle is one of those they have in the special display room at Bass Pro Shop, you won't have any problems shipping it in your HHG. Heck, I shipped motorcycles in my HHG all the time with little problems (minor damage). Just be sure all the paperwork is in order, and worst case something happens, you get a new rifle. But to be honest, I don't think movers will want to deal with the hassle of losing a firearm in a move. A toaster is a different story... Cheers! M2

Honestly, you'd think the USAF would be smarter than this, especially considering the recent Congressional investigation into the Pat Tilghman cover-up and Jessica Lynch story spin. But, we need some collaboration on this, verification that it is true. Can't let this die, it is too insulting to the thousands of men and especially women who have served this country honorably, and who have earned a true disability. Worse case scenario, someone drives to Moody and runs the dumb bitch over in their car while she is jogging on base one day. It would be a tragic accident, but a necessary one to save a little face for the USAF... Cheers! M2

In case that web site is blocked at any of our forward locations, I am copying it over so everyone can read... Enjoy! M2

I think he meant with his household goods. If so, here's the "checklist" of what you are suppose to bring when you set up the move with TMO... Cheers! M2

Sorry Slacker, did you say something? I was too distracted by your avatar! Cheers! M2

A little sponsor advice... If you have someone arriving, especially someone with family with them, a cooler full of about 3-4 days worth of food (bread, peanut butter, lunch meats, cereal, milk, water, sodas, etc.) is a welcomed sight. The Army major that was my sponsor when I got to Belgium did that, and it turned into a tradition for the three people I sponsored during my time there. The key to any PCS is a good sponsor. Get in touch with him/her early and talk a lot. Let your spouses talk to their spouses, even kids to kids if the ages are close. Email makes this easy. I have to say that although I felt I was pretty self-sufficient during the numerous PCS moves we made during my career, in retrospect the ones that were easier were the ones where we had a great sponsor. Cheers! M2

Load I have never sold a weapon online, but if I did I would probably go through a dealer. For one, if it is interstate you will need Federal Firearms License holders involved. They ensure the buyer is eligible to receive the weapon in the state he/she lives. Individuals can get FFLs through the ATF's Federal Firearms Licensing Center, they aren't expensive for collectors ($30) but the paperwork involved looks to be a nightmare, and probably not worth the effort unless you are going to buy/sell often. A FFL transfer fee is usually ~$25, but it saves you ass from inadvertantly breaking the law. I saw a guy at a local gun shop try to pick up a weapon he had delivered there, but he didn't have the proper documentation for his status (he was a legal immigrant) and the dealer did not allow him to take the weapon until he did. The guy was real friendly about it, but he did the right thing. You could try taking it to a local gun show and try selling it face-to-face to someone, I see that all the time here. People just walk around carrying the weapon, sometimes they will have a small banner or something showing it is for sale but sometimes people just walk up and ask if there isn't any indication is for sale. But I would advise brushing up on the local laws where you are to make sure you do that legally. Having a CHL makes it much easier here, if you are qualified to carry you are qualified to buy, since the criteria for the former is a lot more stringent than the latter. I strongly suspect the organizers of the show would help out, or the police officer that work it. Hope that helps! Cheers! M2

Load To quote Ordell Robbie, "AK-47. The very best there is. When you absolutely, positively got to kill every motherfucker in the room, accept no substitutes!" Seriously, as much as I like the AR, I have always preferred the AK. Personal choice, nothing more. That M1A is a fine choice, Springfield makes some excellent firearms. As for places to sell, Gunbroker.com or GunsAmerica.com are two possibilities. Cheers! M2

Here's a link to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles. I was going to recommend the Garber facility, where the NASM used to do its restoration; but I see all that has moved to the Udvar-Hazy Center. Have fun in DC, but don't fall for the old "lost my wallet but if you give me $20 I will give you my driver's license as collateral" trick. If they lost their wallet, why do they still have their driver's license??? Cheers! M2

I'll second brabus' post, I use the cheap-o Uncle Mike's holsters on both my XD-45 and M1911 (although I rarely carry the latter) tucked in at the 7 o'clock position of my waistline and it works great. Rarely does it print and it is designed to prevent the gun from contacting your skin. I have more complex holsters for other situations, just as a vertical shoulder holster for when I am riding my sportbike; but these IWB holsters are what I use most of the time... And whatever you do, do NOT buy a PagerPal. Despite the video demo, no one that I have ever met that has bought one liked it. I even met the guy who makes them at a gun show and he did a live demo that looked impressive; but they are not practical and his customer support sucks. Cheers! M2

The process in Texas is a real experience. However, that doesn't stop a bunch of people I would never give a CHL to from getting one. In the weapons qualification, the first ten rounds are fired at practically point-blank range. Seriously, you could almost put the barrel of the gun up to the target, and we still had people who shot all over the place. The real fun begins in the classroom, especially during the 'use of deadly force' segment. Maybe my years in the military helped me figure this out a bit quicker, but there were some real idiotic questions being asked... Cheers! M2

I have a fear of heights, but that didn't stop me from stepping out of a helicopter at 1800'...seven times! Fear is a normal emotion, be it spiders, flying or Rosie O'Donnell; God gave us the ability to identify things that may be life-threatening. The trick is not to let your fears overcome you, you have to control them; but fear itself is helpful for keeping everything in check. Or, in other words, what Hydro said! Cheers! M2

I'll take a shot at this one. Nothing says you have to carry a gun. Some of us just like to exercise our Second Amendment rights, and realize that in some situations the authorities may not be able to respond in time to protect ourselves, our families, and our property. The advantages of owning a handgun are that it gives you an ability to defend yourself and your family in a deadly situation. It is a matter of last resort, but it could also be a matter of life-and-death. Disadvantages are it is a lethal weapon, and misuse could result in an unintentional death, which is why if you do decide to get a handgun and carry it, you fully understand the responsibilities that entails. Everything you want to know about a concealed handgun license (CHL) in Texas can be found here. In a nutshell, you take a one-day course on gun safety and use, submit an application package, a background check is done and if you pass everything you get your CHL in about two months. You are authorized to carry almost everywhere, but there are restrictions as outlined in the CHL laws handbook found in the link above. As for how often people carry, you can read the demographics for Texas here. Otherwise, I can only speak from personal experience. I usually carry if I am not going somewhere where it is restricted. I hope I never have to draw my weapon, but if the need arises I prefer to have the option. Hope that helps, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me offline. Cheers! M2