ReconRat

You do have to pass the necessary exams to get the job you want. Ask if you can take the qualifying exams first, before choosing. I think they allow that. There will be more exams later, there always is. You have to place or pass them all. I also think you can get a deal where the school you want has to happen. Otherwise they can do anything with you if you flunk out. Don't forget that if you can pass the exams for officer candidate, they will usually send you through college first. Well, they used to anyway. Main reasons to join: 1. Learn self discipline. (And quit screwing around in life.) 2. After basic training, your strength and endurance is drastically improved. 3. Despite what we hear, most companies and employers are quite happy to hire veterans. Especially military officers. 4. It was fun. Hard work sure, but to me the entire experience was fun. Travel and see the world. 5. Honor and heritage. I think almost every man in my family tree all the way back to England, Ireland, and Germany, has been in military service, and fought in time of war. A few that I know of were fairly impressive. Two things to have first before joining up. Two years of college for points on promotion boards. And get three recommendations/references for your entrance paperwork (name address and phone numbers), from the three highest ranking military officers you know of, any branch of service. Two years active duty in Vietnam War Era, 1970-1972. SP-5 (E-5), payroll records clerk for special forces, USARYS, Ryuku Islands, Japan. Turned down a commission to officer's candidate school and went to college. The GI Bill back then paid enough to finish two degrees I had started. edit: As much as I liked the Army, I still think the Air Force has the best technical training to offer.

There are Irish tartans and kilts, but hardly ever seen anymore. Mostly in American bars. (sic). Most are associated with immigrants from Scotland to Ireland. Others are from a time that Irish counties had their own. Many are simply imaginary or just stuff for tourists. There's probably 25,000+ registered Scottish tartans, and maybe 32 Irish tartans. Three tartan kilts are distinctly Irish. The Ulster, Tara, and Clodagh. Particularly the Ulster, perhaps the only Irish group of Scottish heritage that still uses the practice of tartan kilts. Bike night, pick a Wednesday. We'll be there. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilt http://www.your-kilt.com/irish-tartans.html http://blog.albanach.org/2005/11/irish-tartans-scottish-tartans-in.html

Ok, I figured it out. Motorcycle in snow = Kawasaki KLX250S with Kenda K771 Millville tires (Winter compound) with carbide snow studs. Practically indestructible when it falls over. Light enough to pick back up easily. The only bad part is there isn't enough alternator output to really run electrically heated clothing. Anything else will have to have ABS braking and a large alternator output. (And crash bars and training wheels.)

Here ya go, German snow cleats (claws) for motorcycle. The front wheel is still likely to slide out if not careful. 110 Euro for a set of five for each wheel. If I were riding in the Winter with a threat of snow in the forecast, these might be nice to have along, just in case. http://www.mv-motorrad.de/cosmoshop/lshop,showdetail,13240,e,1105803788-30287,,10107,,,.htm

Owl on your shoulder, aiming for you... priceless...

It's just snow, there is always a way. Training wheels (outriggers), skis on the sides, sidecars, trikes, studded ice tires, lightweight low power bikes that slide on a foot, or the German way, BMW w/ABS and crash bars and ride all year round. Experience says that snow has varying amounts of traction, or slipperiness. Some snow has as much traction as smooth wet concrete. Glare ice does not. Experience also says that the first try will make it to the first corner and the bike will try to go down. That's where most people turn around and go back. Do I want to ride in the snow? Yes and no. I want to ride all year round, but riding in the snow is a pain in the butt. Very tense and treacherous. It's not exactly fun. Except maybe with a really small and light bike that might be a blast to tackle snow with. Something crash proof that you can pick back up with one hand. And not in heavy traffic. There's no sense getting run over by some 4wd SUV going twice the speed limit...

Most any jeweler should be able to do this. Stainless isn't what they normally work on, so some will refuse, some will ask for extra cash, or some will just do it, I think. Also, sports shops that engrave trophies, might be able to do stainless. Here's a list of engraving services in Ohio. Ignore the ones that are stupid. http://www.hotfrog.com/Products/Engraving/OH

Big pile of parts bought and not yet installed. Argh. Wishing I had the time and willingness to turn two old bikes into a cafe racer and a bobber. Yes, that would require engine tear downs to start.

MOAR! US Department of Defense Community Relations Sending Care Packages and Letters (PDF) Holiday Mail Deadlines Military Packaging Tips Thank them on line: Thank the troops message form

This also, American Red Cross donations to military: Help Our Troops A secure website that allows donations to the troops for various purposes. Your donations are 100% tax deductable. The American Red Cross is a tax-exempt organization under section 501 © (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The federal tax identification number is 53-0196605. American Red Cross FAQ

Good catch. I highly recommend the American Red Cross, for services to military personnel. All cards must be postmarked no later than Friday, December 10th. Red Cross "Holiday Mail for Heroes" Read the guidelines Holiday Mail for Heroes PO Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

It was way worse than that when I bought the 07 919 and rode it home in February. The only good part was the freeways were clear and dry. Very weird riding on a freeway completely surrounded by white stuff everywhere. When I backed up and rammed it up the driveway I never shoveled, it stayed where it stopped. Lock it, cover it, and come back when the snow and ice melted. I never thought of taking a picture, oops.

I'm still pissed because I had a CDL endorsment, and Ohio took it away because I wasn't "using it".

What they forgot to say, is that it might not be pre-Earth life, maybe it's alien life here on Earth. From appearances, it just doesn't belong here. Looking at it from yet another theory, all life comes from interstellar space, and lands on planets. Outer space isn't empty, it is life. We just don't know it yet. edit moar fear: If that bacteria mutates to a form that can infect and live in animal hosts, it would probably kill us all, since it's arsenic based life.

Missed it on Sunday... again. Just watched episode 5. Damn it's a good show.

Probably will be like backintheday. A Grenadier will carry this as primary weapon. He gets his choice of secondary weapon. The ammo is heavy enough, that usually two other riflemen will carry some spare rounds for the Grenadier. Similar to carrying extra ammo for the M-60 or SAW. For serious work, an entire squad of Grenadiers sallies forth, with the other squads of the platoon. Make no mistake, this could be extremely better than having a mortar squad.

Even better, Babylon 5 complete at Amazon. $159.99 And the 5 movies. $34.49 And Crusade complete. $17.99

Cool! Check out the skid mark and the smoke coming off of his right shoe. Not to mention the left shoe with toes about to grind off...

Salt brine on the bridges this morning. That's about it for me. One trip to the gas station to fill the tanks, and that's it. Till February, when I'll want to get out again. I'll resist till March, maybe.

When I was in Germany and Austria, I didn't see any cruisers at all. And I saw lots of bikes, almost all standards. I did hear a few rental Harleys off in the distance one night though.

Good point. Inductive circuits have to loop, attenuation circuits do not. Inductive circuits are simpler, and harder to trigger.

Almost everything I've read so far, was previously in the news, leaked to the news, or in news outside the USA. Or simply available from other sources of analysis. No real surprises so far. The news was there, but no one was paying any attention at the time. Now people are, because this is "special". edit: I guess I'm saying that this is the condensed version, the Reader's Digest of world politics.

That's pretty big. I calculate a little over 48 gallons. It would make a nice terrarium.

Yeah, the loop is basically an antenna. Metal near the antenna causes attenuation of the circuit, which is sensed as a change in the steady state. It's a metal detector. It's capable of sensing any metal that attenuates, which is all of them, to varying degrees. And includes the human body since it's calcium and sodium components and compounds are metals. There's nothing like a chunk of steel to do a good job of disturbing an attenuation circuit though. Heavy metals like silver, gold, platinum, and lead would also work very well. Or a magnet, it's special for it's ability to attenuate eddy current fields or alter attenuation of metals near it. Use of a magnet could be tricky, in getting any change or improvement. It's occurred to me that if the magnet was on a wheel, flashing past a piece of steel, the strobe of the eddy current would be huge and probably trigger anything. Or put the magnet on a stick, and poke it at where the wire is in the pavement. That would put the eddy current directly in the wire itself. Or on a shoe, or on a side stand. Magnets can mess up all sorts of electrical circuits, so be careful where you put them. Things like fuel injectors, or ABS braking sensors could be messed up by them. I understand the not putting the side stand down. I had a friend that would not even put his bike in neutral at a stop light. He stayed ready to go at all times.

The V-Strom is on the list of 100, as well as the SVs. The KLR is too off road or dual sport to be included, I guess.