monday could be interesting . . .

**Rick** · 03-18-2008, 07:18 AM

Tuesday could be interesting.......

I always maintained a tight schedule when I worked as a splicer.

8-9: Review work orders for completeness
9-10: Stock vehicle relative to work orders
10-11: Break
11-12: Drive to job site
12-1: Lunch
1-5? Everyone knows a splicer doesn't do anything after lunch.

**Ole WV Coot** · 03-19-2008, 12:03 AM

I had it rough. 8-9 drive like crazy to check sorority houses and whisper man on the floor
9-11 go get coffee, snacks & paper
11-1 eat, read paper nap(make note: overtime, skipped lunch)
1-3 tour the campus one more time
3-4 talk to hookers in alley
4-5 make up time sheet - remember the overtime.
5. go home and rest

**Rick** · 03-19-2008, 08:30 AM

If folks only knew the real world of telephone men. (chuckle, chortle) It would probably make a better reality show than any of the crap playing today. Phone lines that had to be monitored (and the things you hear!!

, toll calls that had to be made from the toll board, women that do stupid stuff when you're in their house. Real life stuff. You can't make it up.

**Beo** · 03-19-2008, 08:34 AM

Hey Rick you ever dip in on a conversation? Come on bro, its human nature ya had too I would've.

**Rick** · 03-19-2008, 08:43 AM

Every day, Beo. Part of the job. You can't go in and start working on lines without monitoring them. Someone could be talking to 911, their doctor, their priest, the suicide prevention line, whatever. You just have to do it. Once you're done, you have to check the lines for quality. People seem to be under the impression that private lines are somehow private. WRONG!! There is no law against monitoring a line. You just can't reveal what was said. That will get you in dutch for sure. I know guys that got fired over just that.

We had one guy that was a reserve deputy. He'd monitor the calls at a local bar that was known for drugs. When a shipment was coming in, the county was always there to meet it. It didn't take a couple of busts for folks to figure out what was going on. He got fired over that.

We also had an office guy that just happened to overhear about a huge shipment coming in. What a catch 22. He wanted to do the right thing but couldn't reveal what he had heard. Took the problem to his boss who suggested an anonymous phone call from an untracable line (you can do that inside), which he did. Made all the papers and no one knew how it went down. Not even the cops.

The farther the call travels (the more offices it goes through) the more chance of the call being monitored. We had a 4-12 shift in the toll center that one guy always worked. I worked outside and have gone in while out on overtime and he'd have calls up on the speaker just listening as he worked. "What's up?" I'd ask. "Quality check on toll," he'd say and just smile. Some calls are really hot, brother. And.....many times you know who the folks are because you know what house that line feeds. Especially if you work outside like I did.

Now, about that phone sex........

**nell67** · 03-19-2008, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by Rick

Every day, Beo. Part of the job. You can't go in and start working on lines without monitoring them. Someone could be talking to 911, their doctor, their priest, the suicide prevention line, whatever. You just have to do it. Once you're done, you have to check the lines for quality. People seem to be under the impression that private lines are somehow private. WRONG!! There is no law against monitoring a line. You just can't reveal what was said. That will get you in dutch for sure. I know guys that got fired over just that.

We had one guy that was a reserve deputy. He'd monitor the calls at a local bar that was known for drugs. When a shipment was coming in, the county was always there to meet it. It didn't take a couple of busts for folks to figure out what was going on. He got fired over that.

We also had an office guy that just happened to overhear about a huge shipment coming in. What a catch 22. He wanted to do the right thing but couldn't reveal what he had heard. Took the problem to his boss who suggested an anonymous phone call from an untracable line (you can do that inside), which he did. Made all the papers and no one knew how it went down. Not even the cops.

The farther the call travels (the more offices it goes through) the more chance of the call being monitored. We had a 4-12 shift in the toll center that one guy always worked. I worked outside and have gone in while out on overtime and he'd have calls up on the speaker just listening as he worked. "What's up?" I'd ask. "Quality check on toll," he'd say and just smile. Some calls are really hot, brother. And.....many times you know who the folks are because you know what house that line feeds. Especially if you work outside like I did.

Now, about that phone sex........

Dang,thats really nice to know now,,cuz ya know,I like my private phone calls to be PRIVATE!

**Rick** · 03-19-2008, 08:52 AM

99% of the time they will be. But, you never know when someone is working in the area, on the cable or in the office. I don't discuss anything private over the phone. Never.

**Alpine_Sapper** · 03-19-2008, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Rick

99% of the time they will be. But, you never know when someone is working in the area, on the cable or in the office. I don't discuss anything private over the phone. Never.

You stand a better chance of getting a private conversation on a land line than cellular. Anyone with a scanner and knowledge of the frequencies to monitor can listen to you. Same with cordless.

**Rick** · 03-19-2008, 11:09 AM

Wireless is pretty remote. It takes more specialized equipment to monitor it and most folks won't have it. Cell transmits/receives on different frequencies. Not that it can't happen by any means but it is illegal. And...once it's off the tower, it's back into the public switched network. No different than your land line. Cordless, on the other hand, is easy to monitor. You can even drive down the street with a cordless phone and probably place a call depending on the frequency the hand piece is at and the level of security built in.

**Ole WV Coot** · 03-19-2008, 05:25 PM

I should write a book about all those years "checking" calls to and from govt agencies and all the stuff politicians--AH remember them well. Then there were the lonely ladies up the hills & hollows. I could make a fortune, but the wife might read it and I wouldn't live long enough to reap my rewards, and it wouldn't be the very nice lady I met sunbathing nude on a float in her pool, it would be lethal.

**Rick** · 03-19-2008, 06:41 PM

We had one gal that liked to sun bath that way behind a large wooden fence. The pole in the alley was nearly cut down from the gaffs so many climbed it. Seems like someone had to work there nearly all summer long. Funny thing, when the weather cooled down the work stopped.

You can walk in anywhere you want no matter how secure it is with a tool belt and a phone strapped to your hip. I've walked in bank vaults unchallenged, jails, FBI offices, police departments, everywhere. The only place that ever challenged me was a state prison and only because they had to inventory my tools and stamp my hand.

I worked on a phone in an FBI office one day and laying next to it was a list of undercover agents and their field names. Interesting reading. One of the agents wanted to know if he needed to shoot me while I was still in the office or if he should wait and see if the info got out. I opted for the latter.

**marberry** · 03-20-2008, 06:35 AM

no **** rick? i have a hard time believing that but you havnt lied so far...

**Rick** · 03-20-2008, 06:48 AM

Marcraft - People just have an expectation that you are who you appear to be and no one bothers you. The bank vault had a phone that wasn't working and everyone was busy with customers when I walked in so I just walked into the vault and started work. No one questioned me.

I did have one guy....Federal Marshal. Biggest man I've ever laid eyes on. A very publicized trial was going on in our federal building. Gary Trapnel, some may remember, had tried to escape federal prison when his girl friend hijacked a helicopter and was killed in the attempt. His trial was underway. I had a case of trouble in the federal building and was met at the door by this huge guy that it hurt to look up at. Big man!
"You have any ID?" he asked me.
"Yeah," I said smiling. I turned and pointed to my truck. "It's right there on four wheels."
"Ain't good enough," he said without a smile.
"In my left hip pocket is my company ID. If you'll let me reach back there and....."