notice of my vacancy

[solypsist]

Might as well post this now. Like Tom Sawyer, I have an unexplainable need to witness my own funeral, so here goes:

In three days I board a flight to Iraq. I will be there minimum 14 days. I asked for a photo assigment there last year and the clearances came through two months ago (I had been procrastinating) but now is as good a time as any. I have purchased body armor, been medically approved, and have confirmed the paperwork. My stuff in my apartment is boxed up and stacked in the center of the room for easy disposal just in case. My part of Backroom moderating will be covered by other staff until my expected return.

I'm going because I'm curious and want to see things for myself. Two weeks is hardly enough time to be thorough, but I'm hedging my bets and going with the shortest allowed deployment for me. I have issues with this war, and what better way to put my money where my mouth is than going there.

Keep in mind I'm not a journalist; I'm a fashion photographer. How I managed to snag this gig when my portfolio consisted mostly of studio shots of Japanese girls in avant-garde clothing (see below for example) is unknown to me.

Huzzah!
Jason

https://i3.tinypic.com/wm1bub.jpg

[Sjakihata]

That's nice, Im glad for you, now do be safe and remember to record all the american abuse you witness :2thumbsup:

Have a good and safe trip!

[Divinus Arma]

I suggest that you stay in Marine controlled areas and show respect to the service members out there. They are the ones who will see to it that your butt comes back to the states alive and well. If you show some love to the troops, they will watch your back to their own death.

If you don't prefer the company of American troops, then get used to the company of blade-wielding insurgents who hate you.

I find this especially interesting since you prefer the "bleaching white bones" of your fellow Americans.


On a non-political note, and purely human: Stay safe. Follow the directions of security personnel, avoid army recruiting centers, and always wear your armor.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Have a safe trip. I think we share some of the same views, so I'll look foreward to what you have to say when you get back.

Stay safe!:2thumbsup:

[Reverend Joe]

I suggest that you stay in Marine controlled areas and show respect to the service members out there. They are the ones who will see to it that your butt comes back to the states alive and well. If you show some love to the troops, they will watch your back to their own death.

If you don't prefer the company of American troops, then get used to the company of blade-wielding insurgents who hate you.

I find this especially interesting since you prefer the "bleaching white bones" of your fellow Americans.
:inquisitive: Who the hell actually hates the soldiers? You must be imagining things.

[Gregoshi]

Stay safe and be alert Jason. Your NYC "training" ought to help out a little. I hope your experience turns out to be worth the risks. Take care and we'll expect a full report upon your return. :army: :bow:

[edyzmedieval]

Have fun and be back in one piece....

We need shots with girls. ~D

[Ser Clegane]

I wish you a safe trip there and back again and a truckload of pictures and impressions to share afterwards

:bow:

[Divinus Arma]

:inquisitive: Who the hell actually hates the soldiers? You must be imagining things.

I promise that I am not just trying to be a dick. He made the comment in the wall of mexico thread.

I saw your reply to that Soly, do you mean to say that you were only "joking"? Just clarify it for this dense jarhead. That was pretty messed up.

And Zorba, there are indeed people who hate the troops and wish them death. These people see your men and women under arms as an extension of so-called "imperialist American" policy.

[Sjakihata]

I don't wish them dead, I wish for them a degree in foriegn policy or economic theory - so that they can see how manipulated they have been :book:

[BigTex]

Good luck, hope you come back in one piece, or at least fit into one body bag, bombs make big messes :dizzy2: . I know I'd dread to hear on CNN about a bomb going off near a commy bleeding heart anti american liberal ~:thumb: . Good luck god bless and may the Great State of Texas keep you safe in your travels.

[Tachikaze]

I say, let the Japanese girls in avante-garde clothing protect you. As far as I know, there are none on the casualty list so far. It looks like the one with nunchaku would be a good bodyguard. Take Chiaki Kuriyama as well.

I hope you find your trip enlightening. I'm thinking that the safer you are, the less you'll understand what's really happening. I hope you can strike a good compromise.

Good luck to you.

[Devastatin Dave]

See you in a couple of weeks Soly. If you get a chance to hang out with some Brit troops, be sure to go with them if they say that they are going out for tea, you'll have a great time!!! Be safe my friend.:2thumbsup:

[KukriKhan]

May Saint Francis deSales http://www.catholic-forum.com/Saints/saintf03.htm , patron saint of journalists, watch over you on your trip

(also the makers of Interceptor body armor ).

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Have a good trip Soly, and stay safe. I imagine you'll get some great pictures.

[Ice]

Good luck and be safe. As DA said, always wear your armor.

[drone]

Don't push your luck by trying to get burka-clad Iraqi women to pose for you! ~;)

Good luck, can't wait to see some of your pics.



Chef: Why do all you guys sit on your helmets?
Soldier: So we don't get our balls blown off.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Soly:

Good fortune. It'll be interesting to see your impressions upon your return.

Div:

A bit parochial aren't we? :laugh4: Though your pride is not misplaced.

Zorba:

We do have a few on the kook-left fringe who really do abhor our own soldiers and view them as the prime agency of the problem. In their extremist view, anything more than army and air national guard is imperialism. :dizzy2: Foretunately they are rare.

Div's advice to Soly was really meant along the lines of: don't take them for granted (they're not scenery) and if they offer advice to listen to it -- the safety lessons they've learned have been expensive. I suspect Soly is enough of a traveler and journalist to have known that already, but the advice was well meant.

[Divinus Arma]

Soly:

Good fortune. It'll be interesting to see your impressions upon your return.

Div:

A bit parochial aren't we? :laugh4: Though your pride is not misplaced.

Zorba:

We do have a few on the kook-left fringe who really do abhor our own soldiers and view them as the prime agency of the problem. In their extremist view, anything more than army and air national guard is imperialism. :dizzy2: Foretunately they are rare.

Div's advice to Soly was really meant along the lines of: don't take them for granted (they're not scenery) and if they offer advice to listen to it -- the safety lessons they've learned have been expensive. I suspect Soly is enough of a traveler and journalist to have known that already, but the advice was well meant.

Obviously Darth Soly is no retard. I just get the impression that he has a bit of contempt for us.
Soly, I just want you to know that your troops will die for you if you show them your loyalty. Alot of our guys have been screwed over by journalists, so many are wary of media hanging around. Just don't take 'em for granted and you will have some bad-ass fellas watching your butt. If I didn't care, I wouldn't tell you these things. I would prefer that you come back safe and sound so we could continue disagreeing on just about everything. :bow:

[Goofball]

Enjoy Jason.

I hope the experience is worth it for you.

Just try not to spring any leaks while you're there...

[doc_bean]

Pray no one there has read your posts here !

Enjoy your trip, be safe, take muchos pictures, don't get captured by insurgents and most of all, have fun !

[Devastatin Dave]

MAybe we should all chip in and buy Soly an iron turtle neck just to be on the safe side.:2thumbsup:

[Hurin_Rules]

Good luck Soly! Keep your head down and come back in one piece.

Tell us all about it when you get back.

Cheers

[Tribesman]

Keep your head down , then again that won't be easy while using a camera , so....avoid the salad and don't drink the water .
Hope to feic you here soon , after you have been up to fheiceailover there , I am sure you feiceann what I mean ~;)
Perhaps you may get some photos of some feicealach women:2thumbsup:

[Kanamori]

Have a safe trip, and good photos. Although, you certainly don't need luck for the second.

[Dutch_guy]

Don't die and enjoy your stay in Iraq, or at least try to enjoy it over there.

Obviously take a lot of pictures, I for one would like seeing them when your back.

:balloon2:

[Marcellus]

Good luck Soly. Take some great pictures, but above all stay safe.

[Louis VI the Fat]

1. Dont Die
2. No Fat Chicks

[Somebody Else]

Don't let the army boys get you (too) drunk...

[Uesugi Kenshin]

As I said in the chat, be careful, good luck, come back.

[yesdachi]

I can’t wait to hear of your experiences. Good luck.

[SomeNick]

Wow man that would have to be one of the most serious life decisions I've ever seen. Good luck to you and be safe friend.

I really enjoy your photos too : ) Maybe we will see some from Iraq when you get back.

Take care.

[Avicenna]

Good luck! Keep yourself reasonably close to the US base as much as possible as well, just to be safe.

[Dâriûsh]

Good luck and stay safe bro. I'll throw in a good word for you next time I pray. ~:)

[Beirut]

As my grandfather used to say when we played at his house: "I don't care if you're happy as long as you're safe."

Be well.

[Strike For The South]

good luck. :2thumbsup:

[Kagemusha]

Best of luck to your journey.:bow:

[Crazed Rabbit]

Stay safe.

Crazed Rabbit

[Vladimir]

Am I too late? Good job, great choice! :2thumbsup: I don't care why you're going, I'm just glad you are. Like Div said: hang around the Marines, just don't discuss politics (or math :dizzy2: ).

Edit: HooAH!

[LeftEyeNine]

Believe it or not, it's a great choice, Soly. If only I had the chance to see how the war "stinks" over there.

May Allah bless you, and return you safe to us.

:bow:

[discovery1]

Be careful Soly. Please come back alive and in one piece.

[Lord Godfrey]

As the Duke of Wellington once said:

"One's perspective on the battlefield is determined by how close one is to the muskets."

You will be closer to the muskets than many of us have been (at least in this conflict) and I look forward to reading of your experiences (and viewing your Babes of Iraq :laugh4: )

Godspeed on a safe return.

[Brenus]

Remember that you are NOT exempt of harm and immortal. Do NOT take too much risk. Take it from somebody who made this mistake… Good luck.

[Major Robert Dump]

Dang, just saw this thread. If you're not already gone then, as we say in Total War, Good Luck Have Fun!

Not to sound racist or nationalist, but stick with your own kind. Most of the kidnappings are due to setups by translators and lliasons. Also, if you have to spend tHe night out of the base DO NOT, under any circumstances, eat the Pork Plank MRE, if that god awful thing is still made. And remember, you can use the little jars of Tobasco as currency with the soldiers, trade them for cigarettes, if you don't smoke, start, its a warzone everyone should smoke.

[Divinus Arma]

Very few of us care about the little bottles of tobasco, MRD. :inquisitive:

Somkes and chew... now that is currency. I could easily sell a pack of smokes for $20 out there. Same for a can of chew or dip or whatever the hell they acll that nasty stuff. bleh.

[doc_bean]

He should just takes copies of his portfolio with him to share...

[Kralizec]

Good luck.