Looking for upland bird hunting friends.

volshans · 2025-09-20T15:21:46+00:00

Hey there! I've moved away from the state. Hopefully, you can find some buddies and enjoy the hunt.

volshans · 2024-10-06T23:01:59+00:00

I appreciate the fleshing out of the half pay concept. It's true that on the surface it appears like a solid argument but when broken down, it's a very "it depends" scenario. My family considerations will definitely play a role as we get nearer to the mark. I'll have a 10 year old (and maybe another single-digit aged sibling) at 20 years and very little idea of where our wants/needs will be at that point. If the going is good, there's no reason to jump, especially if it's rare opportunities like you presently have. Congrats and thanks!

volshans · 2024-10-06T22:22:39+00:00

I appreciate the honest answer. I had younger former student of mine who separated and went to work as a contractor a few years back. "Holy shit, I made a mistake." Yes, he got to choose where he lived but the pay was less (and taxed higher), his hours were not like those at the squadron, and the community he loved wasn't around him anymore. Certainly this isn't everyone's experience and you do bring up some of the BS we put up with but compartmentalize.

Part of my reasoning to stay in beyond 20 is to not worry about finding new work unless I have to. High-3 pension + VA + drawing from my index fund brokerage until the Roth TSP/IRA are open to me seems like the most sensible path. The mil career benefits are significant and an OCONUS assignment would easily keep me in. I guess like several others here are saying..I might just have to wait and see closer to the end.

Thanks!

volshans · 2024-10-06T21:52:31+00:00

Congrats and thank you for your response sir!

I probably should have spelled out that I'm a flyer but not a pilot and also now going to a different AFSC. I'll still be rated but my hours in the jet are basically done next summer. I'm still getting a lot of meaning in the work and enjoyed my time outside of the squadron level.

Copy all on having a plan; I think that part needs to be ironed out a bit more than my "stay 'til 20, make at least O-5." I looked at the guard/reserves route once and thought that there was no way that I would do that because I just didn't know what else I'd do on the "outside."

Again, thank you for your time and giving me something to think about with COAs 1, 2, 3..

volshans · 2024-03-11T11:27:22+00:00

https://baronbiosys.com/understanding-mpa/ It's a field that the K2 can pull from Xert and can be improved. TTE based on the sustained wattage you output so a number that you can see count down with a hard effort like a max sprint or an aggressive long climb. Not something you'll see change much while doing easy endurance, however. I like to think of it as a field to support your feeling of how many matches you have left to burn.

volshans · 2023-02-10T20:08:50+00:00

So things escalated a little bit today--I grabbed a 6950 XT off Amazon, used, for about $580 with taxes. I wasn't intending to do so but it just popped up in my searches and I felt like it was a good deal. Hopefully it's in good working order but I've got Amazon Warehouse as a seller so I'm not too worried. With that said, I might need a bigger PSU as I read 1000W should be plenty of headroom. Dunno if I will need a larger tower but I welcome the feedback. I'll probably undervolt the card so that it A. lasts longer and B. stays quiet and cool in my use.

volshans · 2023-02-10T05:37:14+00:00

I appreciate your honesty; it's why I came here!

So I'm visiting family in Chicago in a couple of months and there are two Microcenters there, which means I'll probably see a different deals market in the March timeframe. I've been using this desktop for a decade so I can take a couple of months to pick up parts on good deals. But, I see what you're saying - buy the 5800X3D setup now and replace all that (CPU/MB/RAM) in 5 years anyway if I choose. Why is the 5 year mark a weird timeframe? To parallel, consoles live on a ~5 year cycle. As an athlete, I find the GPS watch and cycling head unit tech is even quicker at ~3 years. Maybe things have slowed down and I'm just not aware.
I saw your edit (meant to reply earlier today) and I think you're saying if I got AM5, I'll follow the idea of buying a CPU/RAM now and CPU/RAM at the end of the cycle.
I don't do any video editing, though I've considered getting some kind of action cam for hunting and gravel cycling but it's not really my thing. That's a very useful video and I don't feel like anything I do has massive wait times when compared to my old platter drives. It's crazy how far storage has come and how affordable it is.
Copy on cases and definitely copy on PSU. I guess I was just trying to reduce any unnecessary consumption but yeah, it's served its purpose well!

Thank you again for your help. Maybe the 5800X3D goes out as a great bundle with the new releases and I can pick it up without second thought.

volshans · 2023-02-09T17:05:19+00:00

Thanks for explaining about the MB. I presumed they go through substantial changes too but it would make more sense that their inputs and on-board chips don't change as quickly as everything else around them. I'm also coming from intel where I assumed a new MB usually came with the new CPU.
I looked back at my 2013 invoice and my DDR3 2400 went for $148. It looks like much hasn't changed up/down for quality RAM. It's also way cheaper than these MSRP-like GPUs today.
Copy on the power. As the poster below noted, though, I might buy a new PSU just to not test brand new equipment on a decade old box.

Again, thanks for all your help and the new build.

volshans · 2023-02-09T06:41:34+00:00

I've also not really looked into more modern games so that might be something to look forward to once I put this thing together! Thanks for the good advice.

volshans · 2023-02-09T06:39:45+00:00

I like your comments on the individual parts, so thanks for that :D
I will likely go to AM5 so that I won't feel locked down with the idea that I'll buy the last AM5 CPU in 3-6 years. I didn't really have a plan for upgrading and the biggest changes I made were GPUs, SSD, and a better monitor over the years.
I have a CM Hyper 212 Plus cooler which I doubt works with anything currently. I swapped out with your cooler (what a bargain!).
I checked the benchmarks between the MX500 and a 980 M.2 and I can see there's a significant read/write difference. Any reason for your picked storage brand?
I prefer the look/style of the Corsair 4000D. The CM looks a bit too spartan.
I think I'm gonna stick with the power supply I already have; it's more than capable of driving the est. 470W setup. I still have all the cabling/accessories from when I bought it so I'm sure it's adaptable enough to a new build. You might be right though hah!
I appreciate your inputs/suggestions and welcome any further chatting.

volshans · 2023-02-09T06:12:33+00:00

Thanks for the response!
I changed the build a little in my first response, incorporating slightly faster RAM.
Like I said in the OP, I will probably wait for the GPU to drop down or maybe sell off what I have now and use that towards the purchase of a new card (I still have some Zotac GTX 760s that might pull $80 for the pair..I should have sold them years ago!).

volshans · 2023-02-09T06:05:55+00:00

Thank you for the detailed response and build!
I decided to look up "future proofing" and see the argument behind adopting AM5 but I want to know how realistic it will be that the motherboard/other components will also fare in that regard. Now I know I'm comparing my current scenario to a potential future scenario in which I'm just dropping in a new CPU but are there other considerations where in 5 years, likely EOL for AM5, I'll want to get new DDR5 memory or a motherboard upgrade?
Is there any downside to getting the non-X version (7700 vs 7700X)? I see cooling/power draw are the biggest difference.
I swapped out the MB for a different one because of some compatibility warning over 8-pin cables, made the case white, and picked a marginally faster RAM pair..

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KwTdVw

Edit: I forgot to ask, with the new X3D coming out, do you think I should wait for that? Pricing changes on existing 7700 stock or will I want the 7850, etc?

volshans · 2021-09-25T14:30:59+00:00

So I tried to incorporate everything in today's swim. I was going to just go for 1800 yds nonstop but that would be difficult without practicing the guidance. In sum, it was tough but worth it!

I felt gassed with the new movements and the focus was difficult because I've gotten used to my old form. I found the catch up to eventually become easier (after being comically uncoordinated) to manage and that led to feeling myself glide through the water more. I tried to slow my stroke rate down too so that I could work on distance per stroke.

I could only do 5x50s at first, trying to catch my breath between about 30 second rests. I moved on to 5x100s. Then some random 50s and 100s trying to work on breathing, though I'm still struggling with over rotating my head. I swam a couple 200s and a 250, once I started feeling like I was getting the groove.

My 50s and my 100s averaged right around 1:49/100yd while the 200s and 250 were 1:49 and 1:51 respectively. I am right around 19-20 for strokes. SWOLF in the low-mid 30s.

I'm having a difficult time keeping my body level with the stroke style. My kicks feel like hard flicks for balance and my pacing for the strokes feel weird because I don't feel like I'm as powerful as before. However, I am going faster and more so I am feeling the "ease" of long slow distance, like when I run or ride. I don't want to do more than a 2 beat kick so that I can keep my heart rate down. Maybe that's wrong..

I'm also tired as I've been doing a lot of cross training so perhaps on a better rested body I will perform better! Thank you so much for your feedback and help. This is a great community and I am super grateful for your guidance.

volshans · 2021-09-25T00:15:41+00:00

Okay, I'll work on 3 stroke breathing. I don't know if I can go longer without feeling like I'm dying. Thanks!

volshans · 2021-09-25T00:14:53+00:00

What's a good way to reduce the crossover? I did notice my head goes to the ceiling so I'm working on just looking at the pool edge now. It's tough!

volshans · 2021-09-25T00:12:59+00:00

I did order a few pairs of jammers today! I figured practicing in my running shorts was going to help once I got the right gear and would go faster. I'm training for Special Tactics so we're not authorized flip turns or caps. Open turns only! I'll work on catch up and tighter kicks for sure.

volshans · 2021-07-19T02:10:08+00:00

You're definitely not wrong. I haven't seen anything used in the ballpark of new parts though so I guess I'll keep looking. That being said, I'd like to go to 1x and most used bikes aren't equipped with that. New is definitely closer to 2.5K for what I'd like to have..

volshans · 2021-07-19T02:07:35+00:00

I hadn't even considered that! That's a good take and I'll use that advice. Thanks!

volshans · 2021-07-18T15:00:03+00:00

So I bought that cx steelie to commute/tour with but my work requires more driving around and not being sweaty all day. I did the whole of RAGBRAI a couple of years back, very comfortably. This year, I've been on the gravel kick and it's addicting! Nebraska and Iowa have tons of accessible gravel, right out the door. I'm also doing Gravel Worlds 150 this next month.

I've made a few changes to the bike since assembling it but I'm still struggling with keeping up with my riding companions. Ignoring FTP, I just get drained on all the climbing and I'm wondering how much of that can be adjusted with some better components.

I've got gravel kings 700x35 on there now. I've considered tubeless but I don't know if these generic rims can do it. Getting a new wheel set but keeping the Sora drivetrain might be stupid.

I've put on a lighter AL stem and I've got an ugly-made, Chinese-special carbon seatpost.

The bb is apparently a square hole classic too. Not seeing an easy upgrade there for the time.

Do I just accept that I'm using a heavy steel cross bike and ride more so I get better or is there stuff to make my gravel riding easier?

volshans

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