be safe-stay aware!

[guitartexan]

What with the coup in Madagascar, the piracy events unfolding, and various other kidnappings and killings over the course of the last several months, it will do us rats to bear in mind that we can be used as bargaining chips if we get caught up in one of these often times violent events. There were over 100 people killed not 6 klicks from us a couple months ago. I could hear the AK's.
For any rats in or planning on going to Thailand, have an alternative exit plan. They shut that airport down not long ago and it was a nightmare to get out. You can always take a bus to Cambodia or another neighboring airport. Huge swathes of Africa are ready to erupt into violence at any moment, depending on which warlord recieved his shipment of weapons. If you are in Africa, DO NOT be caught or implicated in the buying of stones. It is a serious offense and you will be lucky to stay out of one of the "jails" (read that aids infested shit hole). At the very least it will cost you a ton of money and your clearance if you are caught.
Whatever goes down around you, keep your cool and asses the situation. If you are on a lonely street being attacked by more than one, back into a doorway so they have to come at you one at a time. Dont put yourself in situations that may go sour. PAY for what you get, especially the girls.:sport002: Nothing breeds resentment worse than a cheat. I was just thinking about Easter and hope all the rat bros. have a good and safe one, and thought I would talk a little. Not saying I have seen it all, just saying what I have seen. G.T.:2cents

[Javabear]

Good advice! Good luck to all the rat bros. in Thailand or with family there.

[sandsofsin]

Madagascar - is it true the cockroaches are as big as they say?

Your right about the unrest in that region and (ALL) would be well advised to think twice before becoming a target. It took them almost four minutes with a dull knife and no skills to cut a brothers head off awhile back here in the land where devil nevel never sleeps.

I might add that if our govrnment has not insisted on the exit of all non essential personnel; Families and the like - "NOW" would be a good time to make that happen.

Anyway, I just wanted to agree with this thread and touch base with it's author as well.

Sandsofsin

[guitartexan]

Hey SOS, good to hear from you! You are still in the sand box then. Keep your head on your shoulders.
For all you rats out there, this guy can and has built or serviced every peice of infrastructure known to man while not getting killed. He is From way back.

Lets go shooting sometime, up at the lake.:AR15

[guitartexan]

Nice reference to the Larry Niven essay about Superman and his personal habits as a youth. For all you rats out there, Larry Niven is an author of many science fiction novels and a very smart guy. He specializes in what is known as "hard" science fiction-in other words he is a degreed mathematician and he works out the physics of the outer space and cosmic scenerios he proposes. He wrote an essay dealing with Superman, and the particular problems faced by a youth from Krypton with his naturaly endowed powers. Young boys doing what they do, he theorized that the roof in his bedroom must have had hundreds of holes shot through it. Must have riddled that Kansas farmhouses roof with holes, and I bet it leaked pretty bad too. HaHa! LOL.
He is an interesting character, and his books are really good. His grandfather was involved in the "teapot dome" scandal of the 1920's, one of the worst corruption cases of last century!

Look this author up on the web. Reading his works will give a smart rat something to do in the off times he ain't chasi'n it.

You know, it's too bad ratpack doesn't have a forum for stuff like this-you know recomended reading and such. I guess too many diverse tastes. Besides, the site is supposed to be about work. .............OK. I'll shut up =:~)

[sandsofsin]

I'm in Baghdad now amigo but will be in Texas sometime in June for R&R. Lets break out a six string and a bottle of wine after throwing some lead downrange.