Foofighter

Hey Chief, The First Officer of Flight 77 happened to be a friend of mine. His name is David Charlebois, he went to Embry-Riddle and me being a mechanic we used to talk about planes all the time. He also shopped where I work (I met him there and one day he was in uniform and we just started talking), we used to go get coffee around the corner where I work and talk about a/c, Embry-Riddle, and other things of course when he had the time. Not too many people in DC are into A/C and that's how we became friends. He was one of the nicest people I have ever met and was involved in a lot of community activities. It's a shame when someone like that goes because of what they did. The guy was an all around nice person and I'm not just saying that because of what happened to him. I (including a lot of other people) miss him a lot and everytime I go to the Java house (coffee shop around the corner) I think of him. He just one of the nicest people you would ever have met and he really new his stuff when it came to flying and A/C. All I know is after that day I haven't seen him since. Foofighter.

Hey Chief, You and I haven't been directly invoved in this debate (maybe indirectly ;) ) But Scout and I have been having a good one but I gotta respond to your last post. Heh-Heh! You said, I didn't say Bush wasn't serving his country all I said was: In terms of Bush's speech, no- offense Chief but all the inuendo, bravado, etc. after while can get old after a while. But it wasn't bad either IMHO. And can I say one thing about Kerry, I said this in a previous post, He went over there and fought, saw how f-d up things were over there because of the McNamara's and the politicos controlling it were f-ing it up (which is why we lost) so he changed his mind and went against the war after serving because of what he saw and experienced. He can't be that stupid after all we lost not because of the soldiers, but because of the political interference keeping them back (i.e. Rules of engagement) so he changed his mind and what's wrong with that? Because he knows how this can affect a war and the cost in lives and that's why I think he would make a GREAT Commander in Chief because he was affected by it personally while at war! And I'm sure the first thing he would do (as I would) is sack Rumsfeld. Cheif, take it easy on the move and I don't think it'll take long to sell your house, it looks pretty nice to me so I don't think you'll have a problem selling it. Foo

Hey Scout, And Bush has been in for 4 and what's changed? Thanks for anwering on why they hate us so much, I do agree that there religion is teaching them a lot of this but on the other hand we may want to back off of trying to "Save them". And with Bush in for 4 what's changed? I said, "when Germany, France and Russia were against it" Your reply, Did You forget about James Baker III trip about 4 months ago to try to get France, Russia and Germany to forgive Iraq's debt? (So Iraq will be able to pay the Carlyle Group)? And that the Carlyle group has huge contracts to rebuild Iraq and guess who's a Senior Counselor for the Carlyle Group? James Baker III. Heres the link to their site check it out yourself. http://www.thecarlylegroup.com/eng/team/l3-team1024.html And on your other post, Elaborate a little, maybe in a different english so I can try to ascertain the true meaning of the response. And you keep not mentioning (avoiding) the deficits or the economy :D ! Foo

Hey Fates, I just feel that it's been a little unfair to Kerry that all the scrutiny is being focused on him when he was over there in the heat, under fire, etc. while Bush was comfortably back in the states. And that more focus has been Kerry's service while we haven't heard anything at all lately about Bush's service. I do agree with McCain, both sides should quit harping on this but if I see it creep up in a post I feel a need to "even the field" a little bit. BTW, I know that a lot of people around here don't care for me too much because I will speak my mind, but what's the alternative? Fortunately I've been sober lately so its been a bit more "civil" and a lot more "focused". I haven't been kicked off in a while ;) so it can't be that bad. Just remember I love A/C and flight sims and I like most the people on this site. I once asked to be removed and then came back and people have been fairly nice to me even after that. Some have backed off from me and I respect that too. A lot of political posts have been going up lately and if you notice I am usually not the topic starter, but after I read some of the posts I just feel that I should be able to disagree just because I am concerned about the financial future of the country as a result of what we're doing. That's all. If I didn't care about the country would I be wasting my time with this? I work 40 hours a week and so you can probably appreciate the amount of my free time this has taken up. Because I disagree a lot politically with people on the site I can pretty much tell where I stand on the site. It puts me "out of "the click"" so I guess it makes me a little less welcome. But I won't change my views just to fit in but I like the site and still respect the people here although I might disagree with them politically. I just wish that I would be treated under the same circumstances, that's all. I posted a question for some advice about my cougar and possibly replacing it and no one responded. That's ok too, I'll keep showing up and if I can help someone I will and if I need help I'll still ask. Thanks, Foo

Hey Scout, Kerry hasn't made his service the center piece of his campaign, Swiftboats brought it up to try to use it against him. I know many guard units served. Kerry WAS OVER THERE, Bush wasn't. That's the reality check. Foo

Hey Scout, In your first response I asked for your insight on why this was happening. Your resonse, I guess you used an assumption because you couldn't respond. If I wasn't interested I wouldn't have asked. In your second post you said I comprehended the speech very well, and I think it is YOUR right to SEE things that only YOU want to see. As well as most of the members of this site. It certainly is obvious that most the posts are pro Republican, as such, most things that are posted here are going to be seen only the way that the person reading it wants to see it. You say your perceptions are right and I say they are wrong. In terms of the speech, I agreed with some of his statements and I disagreed with most. Kerry on the F-14 I thought was a bad vote on Kerry's part. In terms of lives. I don't care who it is, I think every life is equal. And let me add that a lot of innocent Iraqi civilians (men, women and children) were killed by us when there wasn't and still has not been ANY established link between Iraq and what happened on 9/11. And there still hasn't been any credible proof found that Iraq was a direct threat to the US, maybe Israel, but not us. In your third post you qouted me, I said, Your response, I was and am stating a fact on this, our foreign "dictatorial" foreign policy is what is causing all this hatred towards us. You disagreed without answering the question when I asked for your insight on this. Referring back to your first response (which is linked to the this one) You disagreed but when I asked for your insight on this for some reason you refused to answer? I'm curious, why do you think they hate us so much? In your fourth post you quoted a lot that I have all ready addressed above. Let's cover what's left. Your qoutes, If one country was against the whole idea I might have questioned it, but when Germany, France and Russia were against it I guess they were all wrong. The Brits and the Japanese will do our bidding no matter what. Next quote, Yea, And we lost 50,000 lives there and not including the cost of the war itself, we've had to sustain approximately 37,000 troops there in the DMZ for 60 years. ON CREDIT. And look what that has left us NOW with North Korea. Next quote, No, As I stated in my last post, leave these people alone and quit trying to CONTROL, COERCE, MANIPULATE AND BULLY THEM AND STAY OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS AND THEY WOULDN'T BE SO PISSED OFF AT US THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO KILL US TO GET US OUT OF THEIR AFFAIRS! AND WE WOULDN'T BE PAYING FOR ALL OF THIS S#@T! We wouldn't have all of these threats and therefore wouldn't need to bankrupt ourselves worrying about security. Your last quote in response to my statement where I said, (You guys act like we don't have to pay for all of this, Wait till the money runs out...) You responded, If you read my previous posts I was referring to the cost not only in lives but dollars as well. A lot of lives are being lost unneccessarily at a financial cost that is bankrupting our country. 500 billion dollar annual deficits just can't continue. Bush has been running the gov at 500 billion a year deficits since he's been in office and this year they are projecting a 700-800 billion dollar deficit (for this year alone!). We don't have a blank check you guys. And our debt has become a more serious threat than anything else. If we can't afford the systems(ON CREDIT) that Mr. Miller mentioned in his speech because we have all ready bankrupted ourselves on previous and overcostly expenditures such as the B-2 how are we going to afford to defend ourselves in the future? Was the astronomical money spent on the B-2 (ON CREDIT) worth the results and does the current results of what it has accomplished so far justify the cost? It's called a "cost - benefit analysis". Once again, We can't afford to keep going in the direction that we are going financially. It's bankrupting us! 500 billion dollars a year deficits and $300.00 tax cuts? When we're in debt up to our asses? And as I said in a previous post in this thread... And we haven't even discussed the economy :D ! Have those $300.00 tax cuts really helped the economy? Lastly, And for all you French haters, don't forget that if they hadn't supported us during the revolution we would of lost. Compte de Grasse kept the British supply ships on a cat and mouse game that kept them from landing supplies and that's when the British folded. Foofighter.

I all most forgot, Why don't you guys give me some "insight" on why all of this is happening? I'd love to hear it ;) ! Foofighter

First off, I read "the speach", secondly your missing the point. And in terms of the number of innocent women and children being killed, who's lost more? Us as a result of them hijacking our planes or the Innocent Iraqi and Afghani women and children that had nothing to do with it by our bombs? Oh Yeah, that's right, I'm sorry, I forgot, their lives are not as important as the ones you mention (sarcasm implied)! Secondly you said, I haven't made up my mind that this country brought things on themselves. I stated a fact that as a result of our handling foreign affairs and the way we treat the world as the reason that this was and is being "brought to us". I was presenting a fact, not an opinion. And, I did not mention oppressing just the Saudi Arabians (who just so happen to be awfully friendly to the Bush family), I mentioned HOW WE TREAT THE WORLD. Remember Rumsfeld wouldn't meet with the German Foreign Minister because they refused to support the war. So we threaten sanctions. The British and Japanese, all we have to do is say jump and they'll say "How Heil" (pun intended). Your comment about the North Koreans? Hell, explain that one to me. All I am saying (once again), is that if we weren't in everybody else's business and minded our own we wouldn't be having these problems. You guys act like we don't have to pay for all of this, Wait till the money runs out... Foofighter

Hey Scout, Yes, there were deficits before Bush. It took us 80 years to go from 0 debt to 5.6 trillion dollars in debt. Clinton was the first President in that time frame to finally get the gov't to spend less than it is bringing in! Bush is going on at a 500 billion a year clip since he has been in office. This year he has all ready nearly equalled that amount (445 billion as of July) in just half a year. So at the end of his first term we will be looking at roughly 7.5 to 8.0 trillion in debt. A 35-40% increase in the debt in just 4 years!!! As I said in the past we spend more annually on the INTEREST (not the principle) THAN WE DO ON NATIONAL DEFENSE! THAT"S HOW DEEP OUR BUTT's are in Debt. What happens when the CREDIT gets cut off? Do a little research on what happens to a country when it goes bankrupt, It's too much for me too explain here but I'll give you a hint, start with a few south american countries. I do agree with you on a flat tax, it's only fair. Why don't we take a look at WHY all of these people are pissed off at us. Ever since we became the only "Superpower" we've been in EVERYBODY's business trying to tell them how to run their respective countries. And it's been under the guise of "do what we say or there will be hell to pay (sanctions or bombs, take your pick)." Well nobody likes to be controlled and this is their way of telling us to F*#( Off! And that's why we're in this positon. Let's look at this as if the shoe were on the other foot. What if China said they disagree with Capital Punishment so they put economic sanctions on Florida and landed troops? You tell me what anyone in this forum including myself would do. We'd fight any way we could to stop them from INTERFERING IN OUR AFFAIRS! Look at what this is costing us in lives and resources, and this is just Iraq, not including the other countries you mentioned. ON CREDIT. You're right, Troops are losing lives and being injured to protect our freedoms, Because of our need to CONTROL, COERCE AND FORCE what we want on other nations is causing us to have to defend ourselves because our arrogance is pissing them off. And the answer is so simple and it wouldn't cost us a dime. If we would quit trying to CONTROL and FORCE our ideas and interests on other countries under threat of sanctions or bombs and tried to help them and treat them on equal terms we wouldn't have all of this anger against us. In terms of Nuclear weapons: We invented them and now we're trying to police the world from them. On Credit. Hey Scout, You are right on 2 things. This country is at War. I just ask that you look at why, I just explained it and remember troops are dying and being injured because we can't "mind our own business" and as a result masses amounts of resources are being spent. ON CREDIT. And this is just Iraq! And secondly, I do have a right to vote for whoever I want just as you do and from seeing lives being lost and record deficits which will catch up to us sooner than later I've made my choice. As you have made yours. Just remember, We are a "Superpower", a "Superpower on CREDIT ONLY." And every Creditor has a Credit Limit. And when countries go Bankrupt one of the first things that happens is their infrastructure fails or declines. (i.e. police forces, services, etc). And the military ends up like the former U.S.S.R.'s. And we haven't even discussed the economy :D ! Foofighter

And where was George W. during Vietnam? Or did everyone here have a memory lapse?!!! :D :D :D Foo.

Hey Creepy, That was funny :D . Still voting for Kerry. Foo

Hey Chief, I just wanted to publicly apologize for the comment I made in a previous post a few months ago. I said: "I guess the economy is not so bad for you if your sitting on a govt. retirement check that won't expire until you die." I was out of line and apologize for the comment. I know some political "puns" (and statements) get posted around here every now and then that are mostly pro Bush and I respond sometimes and get a lot of flak for it because I disagree with most of them (but not all) when I post a response. Agreeing to disagree is one of the core components of a democracy so if I respond back don't get too pissed off, I'm just posting my response to something that I disagree with. I am usually not the topic starter but am just responding to a post that I've seen. But, in the above quoted statement I overstepped a boundary and felt that I owe you an apology and thought it should be done publicly. Chief, once again I apologize. Foo

:D :D :D Hey, wait a minute B) , I'm old navy but I sell groceries ! Made 44k last year (equal to an 0-2 or 0-3 I think), get 5 weeks paid vacation plus 5 paid personal holidays (6 weeks off a year) and get FULL benefits, including free legal!!! Retirement is not bad either. Can't wait till this weekend, Sunday I'll get "doubletime" at $17.56x2 an hour, Monday I'll get "triple-time". For 2 days I'll make $702.40! That's no sea story either :D ! Thought you guys might get a laugh out this but it is true. Call a Giant or Safeway Store in the DC area and ask what a tier one person makes, they'll back me up. For what I do that's not too bad. Liked the avatar too. Foo

Hey Scout, The Ike attached to VA-66! Sometimes I remember I wish my "neighbors" had left their boots on. Just Kidding. Carrier is the closest thing that you'll get to a cruise ship in the Navy. Foo

I thought the first one was just a pic of "girls liking girls on the way to a Subaru sale :D . Just kidding! Just Kidding! Foo.

Hey Psychobabble, I still have an old original TrackIR in the box. Haven't tried using it yet so I can't answer on the Lomac question. I'm going to try it out next week when I have more time. But, SimHQ just released a great article reviewing the TrackIRs from original to the current TrackIR3 Pro and I think you should read it. It's a good read. Here's the link: http://www.simhq.com/_technology/technology_025a.html I think it should answer most of any questions you may have. Foofighter.

Hey Chief, During the 82 med cruise when I was on the Ike we had an VF-143 F-14 miss the wires and go vertical. I think the pilot panicked after missing the wires and pulled back on the stick too hard while going to militay thrust. Pilot and rio ejected and the plane barely missed the ship. Scared the S#*t out of me. Anyway, Here's another pic from the cruise thought you might like. Foofighter.

Firehawkordy, That was funny! Hey Chief, It looks like that Ordie invented variable thrust :D . Foofighter.

Heres another pic that may bring back a few memories...

Took this during the 82 Med cruise. I remember the first time that I saw a flight of F14s fly by in formation with wings back, I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Foofighter

Wow, this was interesting and I agree! I'm not a Christian or Jewish. I won't bore you with the details but I do believe in God. I work with a few devout Christians and I do get annoyed when they are constantly telling me that If I am not "saved", etc. that I am going to hell. Also that if I don't accept their faith I am doomed to hell. I don't attempt to convert anyone to what I believe because its personal and I respect other's "boundaries" and don't feel a need to. I have my own funny Benny Hinn story. One night I had a few beers in me and I just happened to run across his show. He was in South Africa "healing" people that obviously lived in the shanty towns and were extremely poor. Then was asking them for donations! I was so mad I called the donation line and e-mailed him and offered to pay for a doctor, have the doctor bring some truly sick people, have Benny "heal" them and then let the doctor check them out. Ofcourse I was hung up on the phone and no response from the email. And, I think the Jack van Impe show is a Sitcom :D ! I think there are good people and fanatics in all religions. And my standard response to Christians when they try to convert me I use this analogy: We are all trying to get to the Washington Monument, The Jews are taking 20th street, Christians 19th street, Catholics 18th street, What I believe in 17th Street, etc. We all are taking seperate paths but I think we all get to the Monument. So please quit trying to get me to take 19th street, I am not trying to get you to take 17th street. I'm not singling out Christians, I live in a secure building so I don't get any religious visits to my front door ;) . Foofighter.

Firehawkordy, I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just looking at the forest rather than the individual tree! I just think that the whole situation is much more important than the individual case, and as a result where will it lead us in the future? Where has it taken us up to this point? At what cost? And where will we be long term as a nation? We bankrupted the Soviet Union and thats how we beat them. On credit. What goes around comes around and at 500 billion annual deficits over the last 3 years under the current administration we're going down financially. We simply can't afford it. We spend more money on the interest (not the principle) of what we owe than we do on national defense. Do the math! If you do not understand this talk to a financial advisor to explain it to you. At some point we are going to have to "pay the Piper". Just like the Soviet Union had to but they couldn't. Our tax dollars are currently paying to dismantle the USSR's Nuclear capability because they can't afford to do it on their own for the same reasons that I mentioned in the previous paragraph! If they ignored this and we ignored this it would be an environmental disaster. Foofighter

I agree, in my last post on this thread I mentioned this. I thought we did a pretty good job of keeping manpower needs per conflict in the 1900's. This time around I think we didn't and I think Rumsfeld is mostly to blame. When they were planning this the top brass wanted more troops but Rumsfeld was against it and there was a lot of infighting at the Pentagon. Rumsfeld won and look at where we are now. Then on top of all of this (in response to Zagnut's post) they wanted to cut the soldier's pay! How do you think this affects enlistment, Re-enlistment and morale of the current serving personnel? I just don't think that this policy helps the enlistment process and I think this is why we are seriously undermanned. In terms of fear, I live 6 blocks from the White House, 1401 N St. NW 20005, so don't think that I underestimate the threat. I am concerned about it. For the record, I know that a lot of you guys think I'm "unAmerican", "unpatriotic" or any of those other labels that get thrown around when someone questions the current events and decisions made by the administration. Based on my previous posts. But I'm not, I just think that if the decisions that have been made (now and 1991) were given more forethought it could have been handled differently and with much better results and far less casualties. Also, with less security concerns and no 500 billion dollar annual deficits. Since we decided to do this, we need more troops and we need to support them better. But people aren't lining up to enlist like they did in WW2 because this time the cause was questionable, they see that they may not be supported adequately, and the pay and benefits aren't worth the risks. We are stretched too thin, but for all the wrong reasons. Foofighter

It looks like we have 380,000 troops deployed overseas. Some in "questionable areas" like Europe, and other in legitimate deployments that are being undermanned like Iraq. Bush's plan to move 70,000 from Europe to Iraq sounds like a smart move to me for obvious reasons. Remember, during the first Gulf War we had 250,000 personnel "over there". It was a "done deal". Outside of a few friendly fire incidents we kicked their asses. But we didn't finish off the problem. Eliminating Saddam's Government the first time. So here we are. During the first Gulf War we had adequate forces to do the job and the Pentagon had Vietnam fresh in their minds enough to keep the politicians from micro-managing it. No McNamara or Rumsfeld middlemen to stop the objectives from being achieved in a reasonable manner. Our only mistake was not going for the 2-point conversion and getting Saddam the first time. Had we done that all of this current BS would be pointless anyway and none of this would be an issue. And a lot of casualties/lives would have been saved. My point in all of this is that if we managed our volunteer forces in a flux like we did during the mid and late 20th century (after and excluding WWI) we wouldn't be in this position and have a need to extend enlistments involuntarily. And this lawsuit wouldn't be spending taxpayer's money. Also, The arguments of this thread wouldn't even exist. But here we are . Foofighter

I've had FS2K4 for quite a while but have just started getting into it. I know this may be a stupid question, but whenever I switch to the virtual cockpits in any aircraft that I have downloaded the panels and cockpit interiors are missing :( . If anyone knows what I am doing wrong can you please help? BTW, I unzip them into a temp folder and then move them into the FS9 aircraft directory. I all ways read the readme's that come with each a/c and if they require I copy the files where they belong (i.e. effects folder, etc.). No problems with the stock a/c. Thanks for any help! Foofighter