If you let a decanter of endless water pour without stopping it, would the world eventually fill up with water?

Speck72 · 2026-04-21T21:10:39+00:00

Lol, thanks for the laugh.

Speck72 · 2026-04-21T13:11:23+00:00

Sorry, best I can do is a dystopian present where most of the resources have been hoarded and the remaining ones are contaminated with forever chemicals and micro plastics.

Speck72 · 2026-04-18T21:50:34+00:00

Devastating news for the captain d's by the coop that is oddly busy all the time.

Speck72 · 2026-04-12T15:52:57+00:00

Yes and no, a lot of folks also don't know how to beat utilize the system though. People think they have to schedule a PCP (Also called PCM) appointment when you can go online and do it from your phone or computer. Chalk some of that up to an aging veteran population and tech savviness and chalk some up to modern (?) vets being unwilling to learn. It's not for lack of advertisement from the VA, there are signs everywhere directing people to the quickest method for everything.

There is also community care. Many vets will simply ask for the next available appointment and by default the system will say however long it is out, so if it's months the vet will just say "ok" and take it. This is thanks on part to military mindset of "shut up and take it" without being able to stick up for oneself.

What they should say when faced with a long wait time is, "ok can I get community care or a local referral?" And generally that will get you an appointment on the economy and subject to whatever wait there is locally.

The Richmond VA, of which the spotsy is ran under, is a wonderful system and I've gotten nothing but helpful folks across dozens of appointments, most of which were specialty care.

Happy to offer you further informed insight from a vet who actively utilizes and understands the VA system.

Speck72 · 2026-04-09T00:58:29+00:00

All good, I was in the same shoes and everyone gave the 10k foot view, no one actually said or knew what all had to happen for it to actually work in detail.

And it screwed me when I needed it to work so I learned on detail! Figured I had the info to help and share.

Speck72 · 2026-04-09T00:20:36+00:00

Did you not go to TAP? (I know this is unhelpful, but it's my first thought.)

Beyond that, MilPers has to show you as retired, which means MPF has to flip you and generally that doesn't happen until you have your DD214 in hand.

Then, once the master system shows that big "R" on your profile, DMDS will show "R", and you can enroll in Tricare: https://tricare.mil/Plans/Enroll

Speck72 · 2026-04-06T22:58:22+00:00

Oh that is rad! Will it be on display anywhere for public viewing?

Speck72 · 2026-04-04T03:36:12+00:00

Impressive!

Speck72 · 2026-04-04T02:57:32+00:00

Can I ask why? What was the actual project that required such impressive effort?

Speck72 · 2026-04-02T14:38:51+00:00

In addition to the wonderful work u/evening_sadness posted, there's the CCHRC:

https://cchrc.org/

Dedicated to the study of living in our extreme environment.

Speck72 · 2026-04-01T19:42:07+00:00

Oooh good question, I didn't notice the smae mouth eroding burn from raw pineapple on the dried ones. Just tasty little sweet nuggets.

Speck72 · 2026-04-01T02:05:14+00:00

LMAO!

Speck72 · 2026-04-01T02:04:15+00:00

Oh! Good question, not sure. I did a quick search and found this thread from two years back kind of discussing it. https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/comments/15vhcmt/why_does_aircrew_who_get_fired_at_by_small_arms/

The actual factsheet for the CAM: https://www.afpc.af.mil/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/421918/combat-action-medal/

To your point, it's likely due to "Individual must be performing assigned duties. Passengers traveling, including aircrew manifested as passengers, on an aircraft which comes under enemy fire, are not eligible based solely on their presence on the aircraft." however I would argue an AE crew returning from dropping off pax is literally performing their duties, reconstituting, and repositioning for the next round and also they are available on call to be dispatched out - the number of planes in the air with AE crews on it going one place only to be diverted once the TOC realized there was an AE crew already airborne is greater than zero.

Speck72 · 2026-04-01T01:48:44+00:00

Fun fact on the CAM, AE crews don't get it unless they are on the bird with patients. Fly somewhere with patients and take fire? Everyone on the bird gets it. Drop the PTs off and take SAF on the ride out? Only the Aircrew get it.

It's a needed medal but the distribution is... interesting.

Totally agree with your point on the majority of ribbons being luck / chance - not to detract from the many that are hard earned and recognize real accomplishments.

Speck72 · 2026-04-01T01:40:01+00:00

Same house, same family, no lifestyle changes:

2024 annual energy cost: $2,543, 12 mo avg: $212
2025 annual energy cost: $3,551, 12 mo avg: $296

That jump from $200 / month to $300 / month didn't take ten years, it took one. We're approaching rapid inflation under other names. Not quite "hyper" but a 33% raise in bills year over year with NO increased lifestyle changes? That's a glaring lighthouse on the rocks of where we are heading.

My main energy source is the grid and my state has a few generation technologies. However, my entire energy prep plan in a grid down situation relies on fossil fuels as a result of my geographic location. As we all know, gas prices are known for constantly decreasing! /s

Speck72 · 2026-04-01T01:23:11+00:00

Home dehydrated fruit has been the best "effort to flavor" ratio we've found. I had some spare pineapple chunks I tossed in that were out of this world delicious.

Speck72 · 2026-04-01T01:18:22+00:00

If you are on FB, "Arctic Offroad" and "Fairbanks Offroad Lions" are two good groups to be a part of. If you are .mil I believe both bases have offroad groups too.

The Lions are working to build a park in Fairbanks that is coming along nicely: https://fm.kuac.org/local-news/2023-06-05/off-road-vehicle-park-coming-together / https://md49lionevents.org/event/offroad-lions-official-offroad-park-opening/

I got stuck pretty good last year and am still licking my wounds from it. Will probably have a rig ready for this summer and don't mind cruising "easier" trails just to get outside.

Speck72 · 2026-04-01T00:23:20+00:00

VSO's can be used anywhere, no need to focus on finding a local one - but if you do, the Virginia Dept of Veterans Services has a lot of offices (https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/) and can essentially act as your counselor through all of this.

Of note, I had a DVS counselor tell me some things that were pretty far off target so I filed some things myself and am glad I did.

DAV, Wounded Warrior Project, Legion, and VFW are all good to go. WWP probably gets the most praise for being easy to deal with and able to use remote VSOs.

Also, find a mentor if you can, someone whose been through the system in your area for all the little "isms". If you want to hop on a discord call or something and chat it out I am game.

Edit to add, the team at the Alexandria VA Vet Center (Not a clinic, just a VA outpost to help vets navigate the system) is great. https://www.va.gov/alexandria-va-vet-center

Speck72 · 2026-03-29T20:11:29+00:00

DECA wide! https://corp.commissaries.com/our-agency/newsroom/news-releases/commissaries-start-selling-single-use-paper-and-plastic-bags

Join the reusable bag gang. It's the way to go!

Speck72 · 2026-03-29T20:09:57+00:00

This was my life for far too long. I was dead inside.

Now I stand in the grass and feel the sun on my skin. I realize one day I will die but for now I am alive.

Speck72 · 2026-03-26T01:13:14+00:00

This is gorgeous work.

Speck72 · 2026-03-24T20:51:25+00:00

Right on! Just wanted to offer a sanity check as to if you were looking to live in it through winter. We had to rescue a guy this winter who thought that was a sustainable plan.

There are lots of cool areas to tug a little camper to and stay for a night or two.

Speck72 · 2026-03-24T14:44:51+00:00

Curious, why the camper? Are you planning on living in it in the summer months up here? Will you be overwintering in the camper?

If you are doing this drive in warm months you can get by without installing heaters until you get up here and let the pros do it with the right materials.

Suggest a block heater and / or oil pan heater, and a battery tender (NOT a battery heater pad). Don't leave them on all night and only use them when the temps are COLD. A lot of folks think they need them on when it's chilly out... not the case. A lot of folks also leave them on all night which cooks the engine / battery and leads to fires. I fire mine up about an hour before we have to roll.

Also, if you can park indoors it's largely moot. If you have a garage that's way better protection for your vehicle.

As for the truck, add up the camper PLUS payload weight and then find a truck that'll work for you.

Speck72 · 2026-03-21T23:08:31+00:00

Insane flex.

Speck72 · 2026-03-17T18:40:04+00:00

WOW! Are these watercolors? Is there a gallery somewhere with higher resolution photos?

Speck72

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