http://i28.tinypic.com/6dvnyq.jpg
(photo from the aircraft control room of the USS Abraham Lincoln)

What exactly is the point? I notice all the screens are bright and even the keyboards have lights embedded in their keys so that they glow, but other than that the light in the room is faint. Why not just turn on a few lights? Then you wouldn't have to worry about making the keyboards glow, you could just use $10 off-the-shelf keyboards.

It isn't enough to get the job done, if you aren't doing it in a fashion that looks more badass than it would if it were being done in the free market. That's also why we have dress blues but Blackwater doesn't.

It isn't enough to get the job done, if you aren't doing it in a fashion that looks more badass than it would if it were being done in the free market. That's also why we have dress blues but Blackwater doesn't.

Yet, Blackwater's still a rip-off.

Why should the government pay $150,000 a year for guys with regular trucks and assault rifles when they can get regular soldiers in M3s who can easily call in AH-64s when needed for only $30,000 a year or so each?

Are you supposed to be posting photos of the Aircraft control room?

Aren't we in real trouble if the commies infiltrate?

http://i28.tinypic.com/6dvnyq.jpg
(photo from the aircraft control room of the USS Abraham Lincoln)

That instantly reminded of this:

Was watching Aliens v. Predator last night.

Can anyone else see a theme there among 'evil' alien races?

http://services.tos.net/pics/st1/st1-klingon.gif

http://www.planetavp.com/images/planetavpfeatures/hope2%5B1%5D.jpg

http://www.freewebs.com/trek_obsessed3452/she-klingon-borg.jpg

Yep

You've spotted what they all have in common...

Seems that inorder to be a hostile alien race intent on galatic domination and Terran destruction that you have to be too FUCKING STUPID TO INVENT A LIGHT BULB and are forced to spend eternity piloting your ship by the light of your instrument panel!

Come on you Evil Extraterrestrial Hordes!

It ain't rocket science.

Bit of filament, a bit of glass...

(Meta, does bitchin about ETs fall into your remit? If not please transport this thread ...)

Who needs stupid hostile aliens bent on galatic domination and Terran destruction, when you have the Americans on your doorstep?

Haha.

Two things:

It's called "darken ship." Trust me; those idiotic OS's in there aren't always in the dark like that. See why those lights on the ceiling are blue? It all has to do with light emission to the outside. Take a look at this (http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:-ElraK8wKOcJ:www.dcfp.navy.mil/library/dcpubs/shiprefs/DarkenShipBill.doc). During darken ship, a ship is supposed to emit ZERO light whatsoever. No external navigational lights are even turned on. And the hallways (fuck you guys, they're hallways, not P-ways or passageways) are darker than shit. It's hard to get from place to place like that, especially when the ship is rocking.

But I digress.
It has been proven that it is easier to read white on black instead of black on white. It's easier to work with the lighting the way it is.

Yet, Blackwater's still a rip-off.

Why should the government pay $150,000 a year for guys with regular trucks and assault rifles when they can get regular soldiers in M3s who can easily call in AH-64s when needed for only $30,000 a year or so each?

It's a lot more than $30,000/year.

It's a lot more than $30,000/year.

I meant just the personnel costs.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e7/Pay_grade_2006.GIF

It's called "darken ship." Trust me; those idiotic OS's in there aren't always in the dark like that. See why those lights on the ceiling are blue? It all has to do with light emission to the outside. Take a look at this (http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:-ElraK8wKOcJ:www.dcfp.navy.mil/library/dcpubs/shiprefs/DarkenShipBill.doc). During darken ship, a ship is supposed to emit ZERO light whatsoever. No external navigational lights are even turned on. And the hallways (fuck you guys, they're hallways, not P-ways or passageways) are darker than shit. It's hard to get from place to place like that, especially when the ship is rocking.

Why not just build walls to keep the indoor light indoors?

Again, that's just salary. From a logistical perspective you haven't factored supply, operational, and morale costs, which is more relevant than salary when you're talking about combat operations.

The USG isn't necessarily obligated to give things like airlift support to Blackwater bubbas. Hence, the torched bodies hanging from bridges.

Again, that's just salary. From a logistical perspective you haven't factored supply, operational, and morale costs, which is more relevant than salary when you're talking about combat operations.

The USG isn't necessarily obligated to give things like airlift support to Blackwater bubbas. Hence, the torched bodies hanging from bridges.

I still think it's a waste of money and that they're just doing it so the Blackwater CEO's can get their cut. It's not like the US Army is already using all of its M3s and would have to procure more before they can deploy. What's the point of having high tech weaponry that the American taxpayers spent a fortune on sitting around in a lot on a base somewhere while Blackwater guys drive around Iraq in civilian trucks?

Those Blackwater blokes seem to act like a bunch of dickheads.

I meant just the personnel costs.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e7/Pay_grade_2006.GIF

Uh, when you factor in housing allowance, separation, and all these other pays you get in the military, on top of your basic pay, you get a hell of a lot more. An Air Force E-4 will make around $20K for being in the AoR for 4 months.

On top of all of that, Blackwater has to buy and transport their own equipment, and spend their own money to train their people. This is why the government is, supposedly, saving money by hiring so many contractors; it allows them to cut personnel, which is suppose to save a ton of money. Not only that, often times, contractors can do the job more efficiently, with less money - just look at NMCI :D

lol NMCI. Just got my CAC verified. What a PITA.

lol NMCI. Just got my CAC verified. What a PITA.

I just used LKYT technology to integrate the DRW with the LOZ and NMWQ to reduce QRT costs and improve my bottom line. :)

You... sir are..... a .... MASTER ..... of ..... the TLA

Trueborn, shut your shore duty ass up and let the real sailors talk, underway CIC is ALWAYS dark. It's a lot easier on your eyes to look at a console for 12+ hours with the lights dimmed (and not to mention glare). I could get into the whole technical aspect of it as well, but fuck you guys...I've gotta go back to work.

Fuck acronyms.

Fuck acronyms.

You're clearly not cut out for government work.

Glowing keyboards are a crucial force multiplier in multi-dimensional warfare.

Fuck acronyms.

You seem angry. If it makes you feel any better after MCRD the DIs get easier, just not as much for me because I'll be going to SOI instead of MCT like most people, and I expect to get the shit kicked it out of me.

You're clearly not cut out for government work.

Exactly what I thought. :D

Glowing keyboards are a crucial force multiplier in multi-dimensional warfare.

Sounds like you got that from a Naval manual.

Trackball mice suck.

trackball mice suck.

bullshit!