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alamo5000
14 December 2014, 13:35
I am a pretty new member here and so far I like it a lot. Everyone seems to be very genuine and fun. Just out of a sense of fun and in order to help get to know everyone chime in as you please.

The question is what are your talents? Or what things (non gun related) do you participate in or like? Don't worry... you don't need to be a professional at things or be shy about sharing....

For me:

Talents that I think I have: Foreign languages. I can pick up a book or two and in no time I can be conversant in a foreign language. It's just a natural talent I've had since I was a child. I have studied numerous languages but at present (despite my laziness to continue studying) I am fluent in Mandarin (Chinese). "Fluent" is a loaded word but I have taken formal tests on it (at least for Chinese) and they say I am fluent.

Things I like but I think I am talented in: Cooking :) I enjoy cooking a lot. After just doing it, over time I can cook a pretty good steak. I enjoy cooking. It's just a lot of fun to share in a good meal with good people.

Things I like but that I am working on: I really like some types of art (painting). I can't paint to save my life though. I also really like photography but I think it's related in ways to my enjoyment of artwork. I spend quite a bit of time trying to develop my talent in photography. I am not as creative as I would like to be but at least I try.

What about you? List can be short or long... just share something if you are so inclined.

GOST
14 December 2014, 13:46
Mine are more interest rather than talents. I like to read reviews and periodicals. I like to draw and paint. I used to like to compete in dart tournaments. And before my last knee surgery I was really big into skateboarding and snowboarding.

WHSmithIV
14 December 2014, 14:20
I'm good with languages also - I speak 5 different languages and am absolutely fluent in Finnish and French. My German and Portuguese are a little rusty.

Other than that I'm a computer and telecom engineer. I know more programming languages than I care to think about and can analyze telephone signalling down to a single signal out of place or having a missing parameter.

That's the short list.

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 14:20
Mine are more interest rather than talents. I like to read reviews and periodicals. I like to draw and paint. I used to like to compete in dart tournaments. And before my last knee surgery I was really big into skateboarding and snowboarding.

That's cool! I used to be a competitive waterskier but when I was a teenager I destroyed my right shoulder in a skiing accident. Sports pretty much ended for me after that. I had my right arm strapped to my chest for over a year... so I feel you on the latter of those things.

What kind of periodicals do you like to read?

What kind of drawing and painting? Like people and scenery or something else? Or just 'whatever'?

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 14:27
I'm good with languages also - I speak 5 different languages and am absolutely fluent in Finnish and French. My German and Portuguese are a little rusty.

My language list is as follows: English, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, and a smidgin of Japanese.

As a kid I was very good in Arabic, English and French. I lost interest in those over time. All the way through high school I was good in French mainly because my girlfriend spoke French :) Since then not much practice. Portuguese, Spanish and Japanese were all just 'little bits'... I could hold a small conversation but I never really got into them.

Chinese... I started back in 1994 and have been at it ever since. I got decent in Cantonese but I abandoned that one and stuck with Mandarin.

toolboxluis00200
14 December 2014, 14:34
couch commander :)

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 14:37
couch commander :)

You're a professional channel flipper? I guess that counts... What was the last episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians about? Unfortunately I missed it.

toolboxluis00200
14 December 2014, 14:45
You're a professional channel flipper? I guess that counts... What was the last episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians about? Unfortunately I missed it.

i dont see that crap i trow belch on my eyes first before i see that show

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 15:01
i dont see that crap i trow belch on my eyes first before i see that show

LOL

You and me both.

JHoward
14 December 2014, 15:27
I can go pretty beast mode on Battlefield 3...

DutyUse
14 December 2014, 15:54
When I was still in Highschool I was really into Board sports, wakeboarding & snowboarding mostly, but as I got older I couldn't bounce back from the spills and I gave it up. I've always loved cars and working on them and I put myself partially through college working at the local Goodyear store as a mechanic. I got to work on some cool rides for myself and friends but again being practical won the day and I sold my BMW and mini-truck for family vehicles. I've always been an Outdoorsman whether it was hunting, fishing, camping or hiking. hmm I like to read, watch sports, learn about guns and gear. Mostly these days though I'm working be it at actual work or our small farm, and if not I'm spending time with my wife, kids, and our four dogs. Pretty boring now that I think about it..

Stone
14 December 2014, 16:13
My talent is figuring out who the nsa moles are on gun forums. They usually ask questions that make you feel at ease and allow you to divulge as much personal information as possible. I am on the trail of a few right now...[pop]

WHSmithIV
14 December 2014, 16:18
I didn't list the other languages I know some of. No point really. Be it the oceans, mountains or forests I'll do just fine for survival. I'm not a fan of deserts though.

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 16:31
My talent is figuring out who the nsa moles are on gun forums. They usually ask questions that make you feel at ease and allow you to divulge as much personal information as possible. I am on the trail of a few right now...[pop]

HAHAA. I wonder who that could be?

GaSwamper
14 December 2014, 16:35
I can make a pretty mean Turkey call and deer grunt on the lathe. I can find the biggest buck around and totally blow it. I can piss the boss off quicker than anyone on the crew. Lastly I have the very useful talent for always being right when I tell the wife something.

GaSwamper
14 December 2014, 16:37
My language list is as follows: English, Arabic, Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, and a smidgin of Japanese.

As a kid I was very good in Arabic, English and French. I lost interest in those over time. All the way through high school I was good in French mainly because my girlfriend spoke French :) Since then not much practice. Portuguese, Spanish and Japanese were all just 'little bits'... I could hold a small conversation but I never really got into them.

Chinese... I started back in 1994 and have been at it ever since. I got decent in Cantonese but I abandoned that one and stuck with Mandarin.

Yes but how's you're South Georgia Redneck?

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 16:39
I can make a pretty mean Turkey call and deer grunt on the lathe. I can find the biggest buck around and totally blow it. I can piss the boss off quicker than anyone on the crew. Lastly I have the very useful talent for always being right when I tell the wife something.


Dude, you sound like a professional trouble maker. LOL

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 16:40
Yes but how's you're South Georgia Redneck?

I come from a long line of East Texas Rednecks.

It's a slightly different twang but I can understand Georgian Rednecks.

Macon... you don't get much more redneck than Macon...

Thompson
14 December 2014, 17:16
Call me crazy, but I love to run (ran cross country in high school). I also love photography; rockin a Nikon D5100. Thus far, I've mainly done candid and sports photography - and a wee bit of portrait work. Would like to expand into the firearms realm though.

I too love to cook - ranging from the grill to stove top to the oven (sweet treats [:)])

I also do a bit of video gaming - mainly World of Tanks and Watch Dogs at the moment.


I can go pretty beast mode on Battlefield 3...
... hey there [new] squadmate! ... and if you say anything other than PC you will have lost my respect for eternity [BD]

DutyUse
14 December 2014, 17:17
I can find the biggest buck around and totally blow it.

Ha I love that.

JHoward
14 December 2014, 17:18
Sorry, PS3!

GaSwamper
14 December 2014, 17:28
Sorry, PS3!

Once upon a time I probly took you're dog tags! Did you ever play MAG?

GaSwamper
14 December 2014, 17:29
I come from a long line of East Texas Rednecks.

It's a slightly different twang but I can understand Georgian Rednecks.

Macon... you don't get much more redneck than Macon...

Ha, hour south of Macon.

din
14 December 2014, 17:34
taking naps, making my wife mad, impulse spending.

camomike
14 December 2014, 17:45
I'm a Semi professional fire performer. I specialize in fire eating and body burning. I'm also fluent in flexible weapons like the rope dart, 3 section staff and 9 section whip chain.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m19/Michael_Camo_Lohman/eat_zps85aa3bcf.jpg


I also build custom PC's and gaming rigs. This one I build into a tool box and made it look like a 1950's coke chest. Here it was about 80% done.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m19/Michael_Camo_Lohman/476100_4110816253794_923178417_o_zpsf8d28669.jpg

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 17:47
Ha, hour south of Macon.

Card carrying bona fide dyed in the wool... REDNECK. LOL

Thompson
14 December 2014, 18:07
Sorry, PS3!
Haha all good.


I also build custom PC's and gaming rigs.
Forgot to mention; I do this too [:D] I've built two PC's thus far.

GOST
14 December 2014, 19:14
That's cool! I used to be a competitive waterskier but when I was a teenager I destroyed my right shoulder in a skiing accident. Sports pretty much ended for me after that. I had my right arm strapped to my chest for over a year... so I feel you on the latter of those things.

What kind of periodicals do you like to read?

What kind of drawing and painting? Like people and scenery or something else? Or just 'whatever'?
I will read anything, from motorcycle magazines to cooking magazines. I really have no preference. As far as art goes I don't do as much recreational pieces as I used to, most of the stuff these days are for small companies. I've got some logo work for a vapor liquid company coming out soon. I'll do paintings every now and then for my girls. Here's a couple of pics from inside their playroom, they are probably the most recent recreational pieces I've done. These are about 6' tall pieces.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/15998953136_9a0b34e6cf_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/123747005@N02/15998953136/) image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/123747005@N02/15998953136/) by gostsystems (https://www.flickr.com/people/123747005@N02/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8589/15998953156_210962ae09_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/123747005@N02/15998953156/) image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/123747005@N02/15998953156/) by gostsystems (https://www.flickr.com/people/123747005@N02/), on Flickr

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 19:25
I will read anything, from motorcycle magazines to cooking magazines. I really have no preference. As far as art goes I don't do as much recreational pieces as I used to, most of the stuff these days are for small companies. I've got some logo work for a vapor liquid company coming out soon. I'll do paintings every now and then for my girls. Here's a couple of pics from inside their playroom, they are probably the most recent recreational pieces I've done. These are about 6' tall pieces.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/15998953136_9a0b34e6cf_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/123747005@N02/15998953136/) image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/123747005@N02/15998953136/) by gostsystems (https://www.flickr.com/people/123747005@N02/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8589/15998953156_210962ae09_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/123747005@N02/15998953156/) image (https://www.flickr.com/photos/123747005@N02/15998953156/) by gostsystems (https://www.flickr.com/people/123747005@N02/), on Flickr


That is awesome you old softie!

I would definitely call that talent. For sure.

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 19:36
I like this kind of painting... amazing talent. I like to learn about these things.

http://www.russianpaintings.net/articleimg/arhipov/big/arhipov_ice_has_gone_1895.jpg

GOST
14 December 2014, 19:37
Their bedroom is 360 degrees of Dr. Seuss.

GOST
14 December 2014, 19:39
I like this kind of painting... amazing talent. I like to learn about these things.

http://www.russianpaintings.net/articleimg/arhipov/big/arhipov_ice_has_gone_1895.jpg
That's a very nice piece. My favorite artist is Rockwell and then Degas.

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 19:40
It took the guy 11 years of work to paint this one....

http://www.artwallpaper.eu/wallpaper/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/08/1538/Russian-Art-Paintings-Wallpaper-1920-%C3%97-1200.jpg

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 19:41
That's a very nice piece. My favorite artist is Rockwell and then Degas.

I don't have a favorite, but I am partial in ways to Russian artists.

I have a lot of favorites and not all are Russians :)


http://russiatrek.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/russian-beauty-makovsky-painting-2.jpg

GOST
14 December 2014, 19:45
Speaking of famous paintings did you know that most historians now say that the Mona Lisa is a painting of Da Vinci's boyfriend?

GOST
14 December 2014, 19:48
I'm a really big fan of Banksy.

WHSmithIV
14 December 2014, 19:49
Lastly I have the very useful talent for always being right when I tell the wife something.

Ohhh, that could be dangerous Swamper - especially if she knows how to shoot! [:)]

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 19:55
I'm a really big fan of Banksy.


I've seen his stuff but never knew his name. That's awesome.

I am a big fan of all kinds of art stuff.

I can't finger paint anything more than a stick figure but I like looking at what other people are capable of...same with singing....I'd get kicked out of a church choir in about 3.5 seconds... but I like listening to music...

FortTom
14 December 2014, 19:58
I personally am a great fan of Salvador Dali, with the possible exception of his work during his "cubist" period. Wish I could afford more than cheap prints. Oh well, I want a Lamborghini and can't have that either, so all's well.[:D]

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 20:01
I personally am a great fan of Salvador Dali, with the possible exception of his work during his "cubist" period. Wish I could afford more than cheap prints. Oh well, I want a Lamborghini and can't have that either, so all's well.[:D]

All I need is a few billion dollars and I could have a fairly nice art collection. LOL

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 20:03
I also really like photography too... I like looking at the work of masters like Steve McCurry and many others too numerous to mention.

A guy name Jason Florio took this. From his Village Chief's collection.

http://www.stellakramer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Florio2.jpg

UWone77
14 December 2014, 20:12
The only thing I seem to be good at is... collecting too many weapons.

alamo5000
14 December 2014, 20:28
The only thing I seem to be good at is... collecting too many weapons.

And this is a problem because???? LOL

Come on man... you know you took accordion lessons when you were nine!!

UWone77
14 December 2014, 20:37
And this is a problem because???? LOL

Come on man... you know you took accordion lessons when you were nine!!

You never realize how many you have... until you have to move them all.

On the bright side, I found another Aimpoint Micro I didn't know I had in a backpack I had not touched in 2 years.

CarbonScoring
14 December 2014, 21:00
On the bright side, I found another Aimpoint Micro I didn't know I had in a backpack I had not touched in 2 years.

Must be rough. ;)

Dstrbdmedic167
14 December 2014, 21:01
You never realize how many you have... until you have to move them all.

On the bright side, I found another Aimpoint Micro I didn't know I had in a backpack I had not touched in 2 years.

That's not even cool lol. Hey I need a new optic :wink: I had to send my bushnell in for service.

J/K it is amazing what you find when you move!!

SwissyJim
14 December 2014, 22:15
Damn... maybe I need to move. Of course with my luck, I'll find old rock hard Hot Tamales and mummified cat barf.

My talents are beer drinking and cigar smoking.

MonkeyBomb
15 December 2014, 00:46
I'm not particularly talented outside of work.

I do have a bizarre ability to find and track animals. The more dangerous the easier it is. Grizzlies and moose friggin love me. My wife loves it because she gets awesome wildlife photography shots. I really should wear a camera when I bow hunt due to the shear amount of close encounters I have had with a variety of critters.

I am a pretty fair hand at making stuff out of paracord. I should start selling stuff instead of giving it away.

I am an orienteering savant. If I have been somewhere outdoors once I can return to the exact location years later. Its freaky. But I can't tell you how to get there.

Buckeye67
15 December 2014, 06:01
I am good at spending other peoples' money.

I am also good at driving my wife crazy.

I also play the whistle.

ddearmon2010
15 December 2014, 08:05
I can move through any type of woods/swamp with uncanny ease...
swim almost 200 yards underwater on single breath of air
that's all I'm willing to divulge

MoxyDave
15 December 2014, 10:25
Wow if I had to rate my top 3 skills ... fixing/building computers, fixing or building anything automotive or mechanical, riding anything with 2 wheels [:)]

Computalotapus
15 December 2014, 11:32
Keyboard Commando.... My main talent at work is Server Administration, Migration, Infrastructure Design. I like to think I am best at sitting around BS'n.

Uffdaphil
15 December 2014, 12:14
Talents? Well I excel at the game Asteroids. Held the 1982 World's Fair record though may have been beaten by later visitors. From the couch I won something like 95% of watched Jeapordy games. In front of the camera I suspect it would be 5%.

The only useful thing I can think of is more an instinctual attribute than talent. Realized in the Army that in stressful situations where headless-chicken syndrome is a common reaction, my evaluation and decision process goes into hyper mode. Similar to time dilation when car starts to slide, but lasting longer in an evolving threat scenario. Adrenaline stimulating a different part of the brain I imagine.

What is the opposite of talent? I have that regarding understanding women.

GOST
15 December 2014, 16:28
I remember the '82 Worlds Fair. It was about 30 minutes from the house.

JHoward
15 December 2014, 20:41
Once upon a time I probly took you're dog tags! Did you ever play MAG?

Never played MAG, been stuck on BF3 for years now and I'm still not that good, but I don't play THAT often. Wish I had the time really!

JHoward
15 December 2014, 20:42
'82 huh? I was only about 2 years away from existing.

akersc
19 December 2014, 13:11
Hmmm Talents that are useful I don't have any that I can think of. But useless and usually get me into trouble talents, I have those: 1. I have a very strong bullshit meter, I can just tell when people are lying or blowing smoke out their rear ends (PS: There is quite a bit of that on here). 2. I have this absolute amazing way of making people mad, refer back to #1 ...... Other than that I got nothin. ;-)

JoshAston
19 December 2014, 22:49
I can kill a yak at 200 yards with mind bullets.

KW900A
23 December 2014, 08:49
My wife would tell you my talent is saying "what?"

As long as you don't ask her, I grew up in a tiny little town in the mountains of virginia where my family raised beef cattle. Because of that I spent a lot of time breaking and training horses to work cattle. Four wheelers are fun, but a horse can go places you will never see on anything with wheels.

I've always had a knack for figuring out and operating any piece of equipment safely on short notice. I love taking things apart and putting them together just to see how they work, I'm a heavy truck mechanic 40 hours a week, and because of how my mind works, it's a job I love. I also do alot of driving on the side, just because its a mini vacation for me to get a load and hit the highway for a bit. i dont get to drive like i used to, but its nice when the chance arrives. Before I got into that line of work, I was dead set on being an architect, but couldn't handle the schooling. Over the years however I have sketched several plans that have become blueprints. So I still get to dabble, I have books filled with drawings. I will see a house, or sometimes even just a room that catches my eye, then I will burn it in my mind and draw a 'plan' for it when I sit down with my notebooks.

My 'hobby' is collecting 1/64 scale detailed tractor trailers, I have a cabinet full of them... I also have a 75 Kenworth I work on when time allows.

KW900A
23 December 2014, 08:51
Hmmm Talents that are useful I don't have any that I can think of. But useless and usually get me into trouble talents, I have those: 1. I have a very strong bullshit meter, I can just tell when people are lying or blowing smoke out their rear ends (PS: There is quite a bit of that on here). 2. I have this absolute amazing way of making people mad, refer back to #1 ...... Other than that I got nothin. ;-)

My biological dad was a magnificent manipulator. Because of that I'm also good at detecting BS. I'm seldom wrong when I call someone on it. Forgot that.

KW900A
23 December 2014, 11:41
I can kill a yak at 200 yards with mind bullets.

That's telekinesis, Kyle.

I hope we are thinking about the same thing. Or I just looked really weird.

GOST
23 December 2014, 11:46
That's telekinesis, Kyle.

I hope we are thinking about the same thing. Or I just looked really weird.

A little Tenacious D.

KW900A
23 December 2014, 13:05
A little Tenacious D.

Good, I'm not the only weird one here....

When it come to music.