DoubleTap

Pretty intense looking setup, especially with the center mounted joystick. I will have to give the two monitor setup a go since I have them now. What exactly is displaying in the monitor on the right?

Wow, getting a picture of a sober BG is kinda like getting a picture of bigfoot; extremely infrequent and always questionable in its authenticity...

Sweet, I'm in...

Hey, I work in Propanganda. Its second nature...

Dave, That was me, and I could have killed you if I wanted to, but I just wanted to make a point: Next time, pay attention!

Jeezuz! How did I miss that the first time?!? Great stuff. Thanks...

Thanks Roger...

I for a while have been experimenting with some of the standard missions we fly and changing some things out just to make them different and somewhat new. I tend to make multiple versions of missions I make, even with just slight differences, just to keep players guessing a little bit. Last night I took the Raid On Mandalai mission we so love (Seafires, B-25, Beaufighters) and replaced them with an all different planeset; A-20, Mustang and P-38, just to see what would it would be like. I flew the Mustang and I was amazed at the difference. Considering I am not a tremendous pilot to begin with, and the Mustang is something I do not fly often or well, I did amazingly well, and enjoyed myself immensely to boot. Now part of the reason was no doubt that I resisted the temptation to fly like an idiot this time, but I think it was helped the fact that I was trying something different and did not fall into a familiar pattern. I think it went along the lines of a constant refrain in my head, "Mustang does NOT equal Seafire; Proceed Accordingly". Anyway, my point in bringing it up is what are people's feelings on this? While I certainly like mixing things up a bit, I wonder if some people might not like mucking around with "classics" as it were. Whether its because people grow to love certain aspects of missions as they are, or they do not like making non-historical changes (like P-51's in the Pacific), some people might not be as keen on it. Also, certain mission authors might not like others messing with some aspects of a mission they worked hard on (I don't really care, as long as I am given credit for the original concept). Any thoughts?

Gents, Some general thoughts on this. Since this week, my PC does a couple of odd things. I cannot attempt to save or open anything from Word's menu without the program locking up. Also, when I try to extract zipped items, the programs also locks up. Does this sound like a corrupted registry? I checked for viruses and Spybots, and I tried repairing Word, to no avail. Whiel these functions not working are annoying, my larger concern is my system heading for a complete failure. Any thoughts on what to check? Thanks.

Congrats, Coldie, I tried a bunch of times, and I think the most I downed was 3. While flying it, I figured that the only way to do it was with extreme patience, an attribute I sorely lack. I will give it one more shot and then try it with the P-40, although judging by my ability to B and Z Japanese planes, that may not help much... :oops:

Guitarman, I found someone who had created a BOB campaign, and I converted a couple of the missions already, which we have played. I plan to convert them all, hopefully by next week.

I have a feeling many of you have probably read most of these, but here ya' go: Non-Fiction: Stuka Pilot Very interesting autobiography of fantastic Stuka pilot and fanatical Nazi Hans-Ulrich Rudel who managed to survive flying the Stuka for the duration of the war, even on the eastern front. Of particular note for me was a description of a mission in Russia where Rudel fought off some Russian fighters who seemed reluctant to engage his dive bombers. http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=0887402526 Once They Were Eagles: The Men of the Black Sheep Squadron "For 84 days during World War II Marine Fighting Squadron 214 ranged over the South Pacific led by a hard-drinking but gifted pilot and tactician named Gregg "Pappy" Boyington. The "Black Sheep," though well known at the time, have received only scant mention in military history (there was a highly fictional TV series in the 1970s). Walton was the 214's intelligence officer, knew all the principals personally, and recently contacted or interviewed the surviving 34 (out of 5l); vignettes of these make up the second half of the work. The first half, a unit history, is rather sketchy and anecdotal but vividly re-creates conditions under which the South Pacific war was fought; Walton's personal recollections and documents (in appendixes) are welcome." http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081310 ... e&n=283155 Strategy - Lidell Hart I was at a wedding of my wife's co-worker and sat next to a neighbor of theirs who engaged me in conversation, thus saving me from unbelievable boredom. We got onto the subject of books and military history, and he discussed and reccomended Hart's Strategy. Was so glad he did. Found the book enjoyable and enlightening. I subsequently kept Hart's concept of the "indirect approach" in mind while playing different wargames, including sims, and found it quite useful, although requiring patience, which is not my strong suit. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/045201 ... e&n=283155 The Forgotten Soldier Biography of a French/German who joins the Wermacht and discovers war is hell, particularly on the eastern front. Harrowing depictions of the Russian fighting, from the cold vastness of its plains to what its like to be attacked by T-34's without adequete armor to back you up. THe description of the attempt to flee on foot across a river as the Russians advance is chilling. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/157488 ... e&n=283155 War of the Rats While told as a narrative tale in large part, I believe the book keeps very much to the historical record (the movie took some liberties). Good description of the battle of Stalingrad at ground level while it focuses on the battle of snipers taking place amid the larger whirlwind of destruction. The end part depicting the cut off German soldiers as they await their fate almost makes you sorry for the bastards. FICTION Winds of War and War and Rememberance - Herman Wouk They can seem at first to read like melodramas, but hang in there. The novels do a very good job of making the Second World War accessible in all its horror, heroism and tragedy by viewing it through various characters eyes. While focusing on an American Naval family, it encompasses a number of characters, including an Ernie Pyle-style British correspondent. It also interweaves very evocative descriptions of various parts of the war. The description of the battle of Midway alone was worth reading the second book.

Well, I for one resent this. As you may notice, it was filmed entirely in New York City where I work, portraying the Big Apple as some sort of hotbed of violence, which is damn lies. New York City actually has a low crime rate nowadays and quite safe for- Hold on. INCOMING! BRB...

You mean food leftovers, or women leftovers? I have precious little of one, and I wouldn't think of eating any of the other...

EGADS! :shock:

Good enough I passed it along. Thanks, BG.

I want photos of young Portugese women in bikinis posted soon or you are OUT of the squadron mate.

Dave, Interesting you ask, yes, it was Media Center. One, but certainly not the primary goal, was to use it for recording TV and playing it back on my projector, which is why got Media Center. So, XP Pro is better for gaming? I believe you, but why is that? Is it more stable? Perhaps I will get that next time. I can get a TV tuner card anyway, and I don't need all the bells and whistles of MC. BTW, their policy is a full refund, minus the shipping fee, but I am going to agitate for that back as well on the grounds that thing was a dog from the get go, AND they did not give me the right part I had ordered with it. In any event, lesson learned. Its back to hosting on the Dell until I can find me a good substitute. I may go local if the company can guarantee me the s**t will work. Again, thanks for the help again, Gents.

Well M8's, I appreciate your assistance with my new system, but I am afraid it was all for naught. It will be going back to Cyberpower. After the other issues I was having, including DEP warnings and occasional mis-starts of windows, the PC now does not like the USB IR sensor for the Media Center remote. Whenever it is plugged in, the computer literally takes forever to load, and then runs like a snail. Any concept I had of being talked into keeping it and working on it with tech support was slaughtered by their Rep John. This is the same twerp who told me that the hum on the PC was my speakers, and then told me it would go away with my reinstallation of the MB drivers. He is an arrogant, obnoxious prick. When he told me I should reinstall XP to solve the various problems I was having, I was done. I did NOT want to have to be dealing with this jackass for tech support for the next 3 years, and at this point, I might as well have built the 'effer myself. So, not that any of you might have been thinking of it, but I would scratch Cyberpower off your list for PC suppliers. Wasn't worth money, wasn't worth the wait and wasn't worth the hassle. *%&%#@! javascript:emoticon(':blackknight:') blackknight I GOT YOUR RE-INSTALL RIGHT HERE!! Doubletap :blackknight: :blackknight: :blackknight: :blackknight:

This will actually big help. I will put in my DELL so I do not have to play musical CD's...

I will try it all, SWEAT TO GOD!!

I'll check...Thanks.

You know what, you need to freakin' give me a call, buddy, unless I am considered as a bad influence by certain parties and persona non grata...

Aha! As the propaganda officer, I can spot lies and deception in heartbeat! Lies, ALL LIES!!! 20+ minutes indeed!! Please...

That pretty much says it all, doesn't it?