Random thoughts thread

[Lostroth]

looks very fake to me.

[achilles118]

it is but its hilarious

[Ronin]

That's pretty funny.  Most people with a brain don't go into a life of crime.  There's a reason for that...

There should be a TV show "America's Dumbest Criminals!".  I bet it would get top ratings.  And there
would no lack of talent, either.

[Lostroth]

there was a show called "America's Dumbest Criminals" and it was hilarious

[Rainier]

That show was awesome!

[Ronin]

Oh crap, and I missed it.  I wish I'd seen that.  I'll Google it and see if
it's being broadcast anywhere (or is downloadable/streamable).

[Rainier]

I really need to get cable TV....

[Swedish_Seb]

I went without TV and internet for almost a year.
I did read a lot of books.
And I found those a lot more ehduhkayczunal than TV.

[Lostroth]

with Discovery, TLC, and Military Channel and a gazillion internet websites i learn a lot more than i could from books. i'm a visual learner. i love reading books though and read as many as i can afford.

[Swedish_Seb]

Discovery and National Geographic are about the only two channels I watch.
But I prefer text over speach for learning since you can pause at will to let the words sink in.
On the other hand, "they" say a picture says more than a thousand words. Multiply that by 24 (or 25) frames per second and add the continuity factor of your choice and it does sound like the better option.
Especially considering Tom Clancy's desciption of how to work a GPS unit; what seemed like half a chapter and not one stinking illustration.

[Lostroth]

hehe there would be no way i could learn to use a GPS unit from just reading and not seeing one illustration.

in other news i can't be an Infrantry Soldier in the Armed Forces, damn crappy eyesight. so now i'm gonna try an get in as a Signal Operator so i get to handle expensive communication equipment. kinda funny, i don't need good eyesight to be a Signal Operator but in the Duties list it has "Perform in land operations, when necessary, fight as infantry" 

[achilles118]

becareful what you pick, those support jobs can end up in a normal line unit with the infantry. but you may end up in a commo office in a support brigade. certain jobs give you a better chance at what you want even if you dont qualify for infantry you may be able to qualify for a job like artillery observer which rolls out with the infantry and your job is to call in heavy ordinance for the unit you are with. your in canada so I dont have as much knowledge of there military but Im sure there is a certain major around here who would know. *cough* *cough*

[BajaBravo]

kinda funny, i don't need good eyesight to be a Signal Operator but in the Duties list it has "Perform in land operations, when necessary, fight as infantry"

When the sh!t hits the fan, any trade will fight as infantry. It doesn't matter if you are a admin clerk or a grunt, you have to be ready to fight at the drop of a hat. If the bad guys think you are the soft spot, they will target you.

becareful what you pick, those support jobs can end up in a normal line unit with the infantry. but you may end up in a commo office in a support brigade. certain jobs give you a better chance at what you want even if you dont qualify for infantry you may be able to qualify for a job like artillery observer which rolls out with the infantry and your job is to call in heavy ordinance for the unit you are with. *cough* *cough*

Good advise and very true. There might be a handful of signalers attached to support an Infantry Battalion whereas there might be 10 - 15 times as many in the brigade signals squadron. If your goal is to be as close to the infantry as possible, this might not be the best trade.

On the other hand, it's a great trade for a lot of reasons. Also, there is great transferability to a civilian job after army life is done.

[achilles118]

if your not qualified for infantry but want to be in an infantry unit you probably want to look for things like a radio operator/maintaineror medic which the infintry need for support. me im an mp (military police) there is no need for mp's in an infantry unit so I will never be in an actual infintry line unit. hopefully you can understand that example.

[Lostroth]

becareful what you pick, those support jobs can end up in a normal line unit with the infantry. but you may end up in a commo office in a support brigade. certain jobs give you a better chance at what you want even if you dont qualify for infantry you may be able to qualify for a job like artillery observer which rolls out with the infantry and your job is to call in heavy ordinance for the unit you are with. your in canada so I dont have as much knowledge of there military but Im sure there is a certain major around here who would know. *cough* *cough*

sadly i couldn't get anything with Artillery with my eyesight. the recruiters tried to find the jobs that best fit me since i wanted to be on the front lines, and Signal Operator was the closest i could get. the recruiter i spoke to explained that i could be put on the front lines or stuck behind a desk.


unfortunately the recruiting website is in flash so no direct link to the job overview so i'll copy paste the info here.

Signal Operators are members of the Communications and Electronics Branch of the Canadian Forces. Their job is to provide Army units with fast, reliable voice and data communications, and they do it by means of top-of-the-line satellite, digitized, fixed, airtransportable and mobile information and communications equipment.
 
A Signal Operator has the following primary duties:
 Install and operate satellite communication systems and digitized high-frequency, very high frequency, and ultra high frequency radios with all types of antennae;
 
Manage and administer local area networks (LANs) and local distribution networks;
Transmit and receive messages and data;
 
Operate cryptographic equipment and generate key material;
 
Co-ordinate circuit restoration in communications and information networks;
 
Plan communications services; and
 
Perform in land operations, when necessary, fight as infantry (includes use of personal weapons, reconnaissance and section level tactics)

EDIT: if i had looked harder i would of found the .PDF link

http://www.forces.ca/media/_PDF/215_en.pdf

When the sh!t hits the fan, any trade will fight as infantry. It doesn't matter if you are a admin clerk or a grunt, you have to be ready to fight at the drop of a hat. If the bad guys think you are the soft spot, they will target you.

You were trained to be a soldier before you trained to be something else. Soldier always comes before your current job.

n the other hand, it's a great trade for a lot of reasons. Also, there is great transferability to a civilian job after army life is done.

that's also what drew me to that job. would greatly help me get a civi job when i get out of the army. it's a tie up between Vehicle Mechanic, and Signal Operator

i have a week or so to weigh my options, still have to get some medical info from my family doctor. there are some other jobs i am interested in. i was offered to have my interview today, but declined to ponder my future

[achilles118]

it  sounds like a good idea for you, seeing as how you have obvious general knowledge of computers.

Perform in land operations, when necessary, fight as infantry (includes use of personal weapons, reconnaissance and section level tactics)

what that doesnt tell you is (baja is right you have to fight for yourself when it comes down to it) but if you do end up in a infantry line unit you have your part as a commo operator but you are also part of the team and will pull your weight as such. 9 times out of ten radios are heavy and you have to carry that plus your ammo plus your basic equipment and still keep up with your squad. but if you keep your motivation and dont quit you'll be ok.

[Zazoo]

Signal Operators are members of the Communications and Electronics Branch of the Canadian Forces. Their job is to provide Army units with fast, reliable voice and data communications, and they do it by means of top-of-the-line satellite, digitized, fixed, airtransportable and mobile information and communications equipment.
A Signal Operator has the following primary duties:
 Install and operate satellite communication systems and digitized high-frequency, very high frequency, and ultra high frequency radios with all types of antennae;
Manage and administer local area networks (LANs) and local distribution networks;
Transmit and receive messages and data;
Operate cryptographic equipment and generate key material;
Co-ordinate circuit restoration in communications and information networks;
Plan communications services; and
Perform in land operations, when necessary, fight as infantry (includes use of personal weapons, reconnaissance and section level tactics)

This sounds a lot like my field in the U.S. Air Force (Satellite and Wideband Comm - 2E1X1. We didn't get merged with telemetry until I was set to finish my enlistment, so I got out of training on that!)
The equipment was really cool to work with (Canadian Armed Forces probably use a lot fo the same stuff). Unfortunately a lot of it was quite dated compared to the bleeding-edge civilian sector stuff that was available (go figure). I was attached to a mobility unit so we got to do everything -- pick the field sites, set all the equipment up, maintain and operate it, and then break it down and pack it up. We didn't get much weapons/combat training beyond the basic stuff everyone got. But the equipment we operated served as central hubs that uplinked to the satellite, and in a combat situation we would have been well behind the frontline.

~Mike

[Lostroth]

it  sounds like a good idea for you, seeing as how you have obvious general knowledge of computers.

Perform in land operations, when necessary, fight as infantry (includes use of personal weapons, reconnaissance and section level tactics)

what that doesnt tell you is (baja is right you have to fight for yourself when it comes down to it) but if you do end up in a infantry line unit you have your part as a commo operator but you are also part of the team and will pull your weight as such. 9 times out of ten radios are heavy and you have to carry that plus your ammo plus your basic equipment and still keep up with your squad. but if you keep your motivation and dont quit you'll be ok.

that's another appealing aspect, there are so many different positions with that job. even if i have to sit behind a desk for 6 months, if i can get 1 month in the field it would make it worth it.

[achilles118]

youll get your fun in im sure

[Rainier]