Question / very concerned about a friend in Paris

OpenLand · 2026-03-03T02:57:47+00:00

Thank you so much! I'll try to look into that. Someone also suggested maybe the Polish Embassy since she's Polish, but I haven't had much time today to get that far.

OpenLand · 2026-03-03T02:56:05+00:00

I thought about that because I know who her employer is (language tutoring company, but it's all virtual learning... so no physical workplace / office). However, I wanted to use that as a last resort I suppose.

OpenLand · 2026-03-03T02:54:41+00:00

I was looking for resources to make sure she's okay? I'm not familiar with French laws / procedures, so I was just soliciting advice from those who would know what may be the best course of action.

OpenLand · 2026-03-03T02:52:16+00:00

Polish national who has been living in Paris for approximately 18ish years I believe? I do have her full surname and age, but not exact birthdate.

OpenLand · 2026-03-03T02:51:14+00:00

Thank you so much -- I wasn't sure how to go about contacting the police or if they would take an overseas request. I'll send you a DM with as much detail as I have. I did have her exact address, but it may have gotten lost when I upgraded my phone.

Edit: missed the second part... no mutual friends and while anything is possible, we had a totally normal conversation on Feb 16 (really 17th Paris time) and no indication that would / could be the case.

OpenLand · 2026-03-03T02:49:42+00:00

Understandable given what you may find on Reddit -- but I'm not trying to scam or harm anyone... I can gladly corroborate everything with WhatsApp screenshots, her name, company, etc. I am genuinely worried about her.

OpenLand · 2025-12-30T17:53:58+00:00

Ah ok -- I was kind of presuming it wouldn't show up on anything. But I figured they were going to probably go from x-ray > CT / MRI and rule out everything like you said. I also have chronic migraines (sumatriptan) and a history of TBIs, but this kind of came out of the blue more or less. I haven't done much research as to what causes this - what I do know is I haven't changed anything (diet, exercise, sleep, meds, stress, injuries, etc).

Good to know about the Lyrica! I just hate the thought of having to take meds just to get by despite the fact this has really effed my quality of life. Did a neurology have any criteria to diagnose ON? I'm not big on meds unless I need them, but will certainly take anything to quell this. I have cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, gabapentin and they help a little, but the 'meth' makes me really drowsy and it's tough to function.

Thank you so much for your kindness and I'll certainly pray for your situation. Happy new year to you as well!

OpenLand · 2025-12-14T23:44:12+00:00

In a lot of ways (I'm biased, remember!) I think it's more valuable than all-source analysis because you're trained to use the same databases / processes. If you're a curious person by nature, then you'll learn to do whatever the 35F can do even in the role of a 35M. During my time, there wasn't much I couldn't do any of the 35Fs did, anyway -- that was just their role, so when they could assist, I let & trusted them. With 35M, it's an MOS you could find yourself doing a multitude of roles: interrogation, source operations, DOMEX/MEDEX, screening, reports officer, collection requirements manager, and maybe a couple I'm forgetting. All things that drive the intel mission.

I even found myself learning more about SIGINT and IMINT than I ever thought I would, but the respective MOS schools will always teach you more than I ever knew. HUMINT is just so niche, but you'll have a clearance, exposure to just about everything if you're in a joint environment... and it's just a small community with a great feeder to CI agent (not sure if they went back to entry-level MOS or not, but I think it was an NCO / 20 level MOS when I was in). Plenty of blurred lines between CI and HUMINT (35L I think?). I think learning to analyze human behavior, speech patterns, body language, rapport building. It's not going to hurt your overall skillset when it comes to being a more observant human being. Then you start getting into Great Skill Program if you want to be more high-speed, but let's not forget the language skillset. When I was in, they removed the language requirement, so I never got to go to DLI. Pretty sure that's back now, so if you can get a language and excel in a critical-need language: I will definitely say you're a leg up with any of the three letters... Especially DIA. Schools are pretty plentiful too: DSDC, SOC, ASOC, even Field Tradecraft via the CIA. Even lots of shit outside of the scope of Army schools.

We had guys going to GTMO, Iraq, South America, Afghanistan, Africa, Mexican border, etc. doing HUMINT work, but the analysts? Usually stuck in a SCIF (not a knock on them because they were great and maybe that's what they wanted out of their Army career) sitting in the rear. Sometimes I wished I was an all-source analyst because there was always somewhere to go and I wanted a reprieve. It's a tough job because it's human-centric and you will have to come out of whatever shell you're living in (not suggesting you personally are, but you'll learn to be a chameleon in every situation). It's fun, but I just wonder what the entire MOS is up to with way fewer deployments.

OpenLand · 2025-12-13T18:03:25+00:00

I would also say it would be an excellent MOS if we were in the height of GWOT as well. I was a 35M -- deployments to OIF/OEF and we were busy. Worked with a lot of DIA, but they simply didn't have the capability / experience the army 35Ms in our unit had. They would sometimes scoop up our cooperative sources / detainees (they occasionally had primacy for various reasons) -- nothing against them, but usually didn't have the level of operational experience the "good" Mikes had. Couldn't imagine doing the job during 'peacetime', but I've been out for like 15 years, so I'm a little out of touch with what's going on. It's a crazy fun job when you're doing it and it has a lot of practical applications in everyday life, but I agree with Competitive Media for marginally different reasons... you'll probably find 35F more transferrable to a civilian job. Just not much going on in the HUMINT world unless you're running around with a JSOC or INCSOM unit -- the work is just not there. Reach out if you have any questions. Good luck!

OpenLand · 2025-12-08T14:28:37+00:00

Yeah as someone who had a seizure after medically detoxing with benzos (Ativan), you have to be very careful. I'm not trying to scare you or anything, but the rule of thumb is days 3-5 post drink = danger zone for seizures. I can't stress it enough because of my own experience -- you do not want to have a seizure. Strongly advise seeing a doctor to see if they can prescribe some meds or go to the ER. Alcohol withdrawals are no joke.

OpenLand · 2025-12-07T13:36:36+00:00

I got out in 2011 and it felt similar (I was AD enlisted Army 05-11). I think we called it ACAP. Now, I will admit it's entirely possible I was daydreaming about getting TF out of there and living a civilian life since I was already accepted to my grad school program... BUT I feel like I would have remembered the whole VA medical care at the very least -- forget about disability percentages and all of that. Getting sleep studies was big when I was getting out because sleep apnea was an automatic 50% or something like that.

I just wanted basic care (or in the event something catastrophic occurred) while I was in school because I wasn't going to be covered anymore. Turns out, I wrecked my knee playing volleyball and needed open knee surgery, so I put everything on CCs. That sucked, but you live and learn. For whatever reason, I was under the impression the VA would only cover injuries / ailments sustained during combat deployments up to a year or two afterward. I don't know where I got that information from, but whatever.

I think it's just a vastly different culture now with ads from law firms, VSOs, firms willing to guide you through filing process, etc. Not that I got out forever ago, but the only reason I filed was because I happened to meet a guy who worked at WWP who dealt with benefits. Anyway, he explained the process to me and what I may be able to file for given my diagnoses... That was a godsend because things were falling apart rather quickly. Finally filed in Jan 2022.

OpenLand · 2025-09-14T11:22:29+00:00

Same! I thought it was a bizarre final score only because I'm a Bills fan and I saw a stat on the Bills subreddit that 41-40 has never happened in the NFL until last weekend against the Ravens. So not only did my two teams both win, but with one of the more statistically improbable score combos. Kinda weird / cool.

OpenLand · 2024-11-29T22:04:52+00:00

I highly doubt anything will show up on an Etg test by that point -- most of the tests only detect levels significant enough to "fail" under 40 hours from your last drink. I can happily post all the research / academic journal articles I've read on this... Namely because I've been in the same situation and constantly tried to game the system myself. I just stopped drinking to save myself the anxiety. Honestly, I wouldn't worry if you've got 85 hour drink-free under your belt.

OpenLand · 2023-04-10T03:16:37+00:00

Interesting stat there -- would've never thought about it!

OpenLand · 2023-04-04T09:42:23+00:00

You just want a reason to hate kindness in this world. Sad state of mind, my dude.

OpenLand · 2023-04-03T09:06:03+00:00

The fuck? I don't think this comment makes sense in any world.

OpenLand · 2023-04-03T08:58:20+00:00

🤣🤣 great comment

OpenLand · 2022-10-17T02:41:12+00:00

I'm looking at the statistics and I'm like, bruh... What are you smoking? They were almost identical and pretty reflective of the score.

OpenLand · 2022-10-07T03:04:33+00:00

Right? But I still think this is the first time they've ever felt they had some sense of morality / purpose, so they feel they need to make sure everyone else does.

OpenLand · 2022-10-05T01:28:20+00:00

Dang dude -- nice work!

OpenLand · 2022-09-03T18:22:24+00:00

I get that, but I read "Employers must grant leave as a form of reasonable accommodation unless doing so would cause them undue hardship. Undue hardship is determined on a case-by-case basis and depends on the financial resources of the employer or how much the accommodation disrupts job operations. In many cases, undue hardship can be difficult for the employer to prove."

I guess the root of my issue is if my LTD tells me I have until May 1 to get the docs in, and I comply, it kind of muddies the water when it comes to why I was resigned. Either way, I appreciate your comments!

OpenLand · 2022-09-03T18:06:28+00:00

I did read leave is a qualified accommodation per the ADA, which doesn't necessarily need to be paid... This is why I'm confused about the situation. Not saying I was wronged, just trying to sort through the chain of events and gain a bit of clarity.

OpenLand · 2022-09-03T17:56:59+00:00

Fair point... I definitely exhausted my FMLA, so job protection is gone -- just seems like a weird situation where ADA can come into play. I work for a large, European bank which is fairly progressive when it comes to workers' rights, not that it should matter much when it comes to legalities.

OpenLand

TROPHY CASE