Triple-boot external

I would like to set up my external Firewire HD, so I can boot any OS on my Core Duo MBP. In addition to data storage, I would like to have partitions for MacOSX, Windows XP, and Linux, room to add more later (ChromiumOS, "Live" tools, future Windows) and the ability to choose at bootup, including other external media. I've started doing some research around how to set this up, and I found guides on how to do specific parts, but I'm having trouble bringing it all together. So if you think you might know how, I could use some help. I would like the setup to be as versatile as possible.

These are some of the questions on my mind:

• Is this even possible?
• Which bootloader should I use? Will I need more than one?
• In what order do I load everything?
• Will Ubuntu work properly or is there a better distro for my hardware?

 

Really, is that how you do it?