Union Aerospace Corporation: Art Imitating Life

[Devonai]

For those of you who played through Doom 3, the manner in which the Union Aerospace Corporation represents itself is well known.  Earlier this week, I began a stint as a temporary security guard at United Technologies Research Center in East Hartford, in addition to my duties with the CT Air National Guard.  You might be more familiar with United Technologies as the owner of such famous brands as Pratt & Whitney, Otis Elevator, Carrier, and Hamilton Sundstrand.

This is a timely occurrence, as I only recently obtained a computer powerful enough to run Doom 3 (a P&W surplus machine no less).  I was struck with the similarities of UTRC and the fictitious facilities of the Union Aerospace Corporation.  From the combination of laboratories and executive offices to the plasma screens mounted everywhere bragging about their projects, the UAC and UTRC seem to be cut from the same cloth, and I can't help but wonder if the latter inspired the former.

For those of you who may be familiar with other military/industrial companies, is this normal?  I am seriously creeped out by the similarities at the same time that I'm glad to be able to get up close to so many neat projects.

[RevDisk]

For those of you who may be familiar with other military/industrial companies, is this normal?  I am seriously creeped out by the similarities at the same time that I'm glad to be able to get up close to so many neat projects.

As a loyal UTC employee, I assure you, this is completely normal.  UTC is committed to continuous improvement. We operate an extensive research program to identify innovations and technologies to enable us to relentlessly improve the quality of our product.

Any similarities between this video game and United Technologies Research Center are completely coincidental, and not the work of renegade programmers trying to warn humanity of the danger of UTC teleportation experiments.  All UTC experiments follow the highest safety and environmental standards.  While UTC's subsidiary Hamilton Sundstrand is a cutting edge developer of aerospace systems, space programs, missile technology and industrial products, they have not developed a base on Mars yet. 

[S. Williamson]

Any similarities between this video game and United Technologies Research Center are completely coincidental, and not the work of renegade programmers trying to warn humanity of the danger of UTC teleportation experiments.  All UTC experiments follow the highest safety and environmental standards.  While UTC's subsidiary Hamilton Sundstrand is a cutting edge developer of aerospace systems, space programs, missile technology and industrial products, they have not developed a base on Mars yet. 

As far as someone with your clearance can openly admit, you mean... 

[Devonai]

RevDisk, you made me snarf. 

UTRC is making me learn!  So far I've had to look up the formerly-mysterious things:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anechoic_chamber

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_exchange_membrane

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerization#Chain-growth

My job familiarization training was dictated largely by NISPOM:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NISPOM

Unfortunately, it is unarmed work, so if the demon hordes invade I will be stuck with improvised Tesla Coil weaponry to start.

[RevDisk]

My job familiarization training was dictated largely by NISPOM:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NISPOM

Unfortunately, it is unarmed work, so if the demon hordes invade I will be stuck with improvised Tesla Coil weaponry to start.

NISPOM is the lighter end of the govt regulations we have to deal with.  You'll hear about ITAR and EAR soon enough.  They harping on foreign national access yet? 

I assume they covered red and magenta badge concerns?  If they haven't, do not let a red or magenta badge into a secure area (obviously).  If they lack escorts, snag 'em and ask questions.  When in doubt, contact your chain and report it.  They have SOP's for contacting the appropriate people to handle such matters.

[Devonai]

Oh hell yes.

"Red Stripers" were the most important thing stressed during my orientation.

[RevDisk]

Oh hell yes.

"Red Stripers" were the most important thing stressed during my orientation.

Excellent, good to hear proper information is getting out. 


But back to the original subject.  Yea, there are days where one ponders how the unusual quickly becomes routine.  Most folks don't spend their days ducking between or under aircraft just to walk to the other side of a building for a meeting or whatnot.  Sooner rather than later, all of that nifty high tech science stuff will be just landmarks walking from point A to point B. 

[Devonai]

Too true.  My window at my normal assignment has a GAU 8/A pointing at it.

[Perd Hapley]

Video games are art now? 

[RevDisk]

Video games are art now? 

Some are. 

[taurusowner]

Some are. 

Very true.  I've spent time playing Oblivion just standing on a mountain looking at the landscape lol

[RevDisk]

This is a timely occurrence, as I only recently obtained a computer powerful enough to run Doom 3 (a P&W surplus machine no less).  I was struck with the similarities of UTRC and the fictitious facilities of the Union Aerospace Corporation.  From the combination of laboratories and executive offices to the plasma screens mounted everywhere bragging about their projects, the UAC and UTRC seem to be cut from the same cloth, and I can't help but wonder if the latter inspired the former.

For those of you who may be familiar with other military/industrial companies, is this normal?  I am seriously creeped out by the similarities at the same time that I'm glad to be able to get up close to so many neat projects.

I'm being dispatched to this facility fairly soon.   You still there?

[Devonai]

Nope, I'm full time up at our other contract at the Air National Guard base.  Say hi to the PGS folks for me.  If you find them polite, professional and knowledgeable (which you will), keep in mind this is still the lowest-paying security job in New England that requires security clearance.  Do us a favor and tell your boss to recommend a raise. 

[robear]

Yea, there are days where one ponders how the unusual quickly becomes routine.  Most folks don't spend their days ducking between or under aircraft just to walk to the other side of a building for a meeting or whatnot.  Sooner rather than later, all of that nifty high tech science stuff will be just landmarks walking from point A to point B. 

QFT.   I walk through this room every day at work, and this room most days.   As you said, it is often nothing more than a method of getting from A to B.

[RevDisk]

Nope, I'm full time up at our other contract at the Air National Guard base.  Say hi to the PGS folks for me.  If you find them polite, professional and knowledgeable (which you will), keep in mind this is still the lowest-paying security job in New England that requires security clearance.  Do us a favor and tell your boss to recommend a raise. 

If any of them survive the mop-up operations, I will do so.


Oh and hey, if you're not working nights, drop me a line.  I'll probably have some free time.

[Devonai]

My schedule sucks right now.  Even at the higher-paying armed contract we have trouble attracting and retaining quality employees.  I've been working a minimum of 48 hours a week since November '09, with a few exceptions.  I paid off both of my credit cards and now I'm looking to pay off my car loan early.  My personal life, however, has been slight.

[RevDisk]

Entering the facility.  Have crowbar.  If I don't return, do not send in reinforcements, just nuke the site from orbit.

[Devonai]

Have fun!

I don't remember the movie or TV show, but it had dialogue like this that I always appreciated:

"I'm going in.  If I don't come back in five minutes..."

"Wait longer?"

"Yeah... you should probably wait longer."

[RevDisk]

Well, I did find the red crowbar.   Figured the best place to find some nukes were at a nuclear weapons facility, and 280plus was kind enough to point out such a facility.  So I arrived to find out that it was deactivated nuclear facility.  

 

But the base cafeteria was turned into an indoor shooting range.

 

So, all and all, I call it even.  No nukes, but I did get some shooting in.  


(No, I'm not kidding.)

[Cromlech]

Entering the facility.  Have crowbar.  If I don't return, do not send in reinforcements, just nuke the site from orbit.

I disarmed a nuke in the facility so that the Security Guard would let me pass.

Some dick in a suit hopped onto the back of the truck and re-armed it though. 

[RevDisk]

I disarmed a nuke in the facility so that the Security Guard would let me pass.

Some dick in a suit hopped onto the back of the truck and re-armed it though. 

You were the guy who disarmed it?!?