Gary Phaserman

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Posts posted by Gary Phaserman

  3. Posted

    This is a letter written by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, USMC, to all the children of those serving in the US Military. I read it, and it means alot to me that he would write this for a couple of reasons: 1, my father made the Navy his career, and 2, it applies to my children, and my nephews and nieces.

     

    Special message from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Peter Pace

     

    WASHINGTON (NNS) -- I want to take this opportunity to recognize the extraordinary contributions of our nation's military families, who have faced many challenges - from family separations to frequent moves - with great courage. I would especially like to acknowledge a special source of inspiration: children of military families.

     

    You are patient and understanding when duty calls and your mom or dad cannot attend a soccer game, music recital, birthday party, or other important family or school activity. You are heroes in a quiet, thoughtful way, and I am grateful for the unconditional love you give your mom and dad. Many of you have experienced the sad and sometimes frightening experience of having your mom or dad far from home, serving around the globe in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. Through your personal courage and support, you serve this nation, too - and I am proud of you!

     

    Frequent moves are a way of life for the military child. It is never easy to say goodbye to friends and familiar routines, to begin again in a new school, a new neighborhood - and sometimes a new country! But your resilience and self-confidence are strengths that others admire, including your parents.

     

    Growing up in a military family offers some challenges, but it also provides some special rewards. You can be proud of your mom and dad for their brave defense of this great country. Your love and support sustains them. So thank you for being there for mom and dad. You are American patriots and role models for us all.

     

  4. Posted

    The reason I put this here is because it relates not only to Star Trek RPGS, but also Fan Fic, so I figured Ten Forward was a good place for this.

     

    IS IT CHEATING TO DESIGN A STARSHIP BASED ON AN EXISTING DESIGN, CANON OR OTHERWISE?

     

    No. the practice of taking one design and using it as the base for a new class of ship is a practice that extends back at least as far as World War II. Several classes of Light Cruisers used by the US Navy were built from the same basic hull. The Navy did it again in the 1980's. Most people who are in the Navy or have spent time around the Navy know that there is a definate family resemblance between the Spruance class Destroyer and the Ticonderoga class Cruiser. The hull (The part that sits in the water) is the same. The Navy is doing it now, with the Surface Combattant 21 program, which includes DDX, the Advanced Destroyer, CGX, Advanced Cruiser, and LCS, Littoral Combat Ship (Which will be the first of the three to see service, with LCS-1, USS Freedom, scheduled to be in the water by December.) All three have the same basic design, just scaled differently for the three classes.

     

    The idea is not new in Star Trek, either. The Constitution class spawned, at least as far as basic idea goes, 2 other canon designs, Miranda and Constellation. Both feature the Constitution's nacelles, and a modified Constitution class suacer section. Non-canonly speaking, Several warships have been spawned by the Constitution class, the most easily identifyable being the Federation class Dreadnaught, which features a third nacelle extending from the aft saucer. The Miranda class herself spawned the Soyuz class (USS Bozeman).

     

    The Galaxy class and the Nebula class share many common components. Saucer, Engineering hull, and Warp nacelles. The Excelsior class spawned the Centaur-type and the Shelley or Curry class, depending on who's designation you consider accurate.

     

    In the sim I am in, we have no less than three classes based on the Soveriegn class: Shiloh, Bunker Hill, and Georgia. All three use the same basic hull design, the main differences being size and warp nacelle possition. Shiloh's are swept down and forward, Bunker Hill's are swept up and back still, but mounted outboard of a hull blister containing torpedo tubes. Georgia's have zero sweep, and zero elevation from the pylon roots. they come straight out, like outriggers.

     

    Starship designs can be played with virutally endlessly, and if anyone tells you you are cheating or being lazy because your design shares commonalities with a canon class, tell them to be quiet, they don't know what they are talking about. It's a time honored practice in shipbuilding, going back to the days of seagoing ships.

  11. Posted

    Quit braggin' Sarge!

     

    Unfortunately, Associates is as high as I've gone. I'm afraid to say I dropped out. I don't have much time for college. I work 45 hours a week, plus have a family, and have drill time to do. College just isn't feasible right now.

  20. Posted

    Here's one I gave one of the guys in my reserve unit, who's a bit slow.

     

    Gomer. "Hey, Gomer, you get that coffee ready yet?" "Hey, Gomer, shine your shoes."

     

    *waits to see if anyone knows where the nickname Gomer comes from.*

     

    Hey, where'd he go? I didn't see him at the last drill. I have fun picking on Gomer, he's quite popular on Drill weekends. we use him as a demonstration on how to properly restrain someone. In all fairness, we let him have his fun, he gets to help indoc the new guys into the world of Pepper Spray.