The "One Of Us" Military

I'm writing this in light of the recent story about the atheist coming under fire in the Army for being an atheist.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/26/atheist.soldier.ap/index.html

I'm going to piss off a few service members on this one, but I don't care. The idea that we should respect you just because of your service is really getting out of hand in our country. Yes it is a volunteer military, but if you're going to behave without discipline and respect for your fellow comrades in arms, you've got no place being there and you'll get no respect from me. I've got absolutely no patience or respect for that kind of military man. Marines seem to be the worst. I don't think they really understand semper fidelis. They really don't like it when you rock their boat, so they piss and moan at the slightest tremor. They might even threaten to beat your ass. Yes, I've had that happen to me online many times. Oh that's a reassuring quality for our soldiers to have. You take pride in fighting for the rights that we have, yet when it comes to the laws in this country, you don't even hesitate to go outside the law and beat somebody up. Grow up kids. I always have to remind myself that these guys aren't paid to think.

In the US military, unless you are okay with the "you're one of us" frame of mind, the others who signed up are going to give you grief. You've got to be a yes man. I can't even imagine what it's like to be different than the standard issue army brat. Well, actually I can in a small way as I am a liberally minded individual living in the South among religious bigots in a city where there's an airforce base. If you're different than their norm, they don't particularly like you, nor do they care what you think. They've also taught their kids to keep their beliefs confined to those same stipulations.

Unfortunately, that's what I see now when I read your "Support the Troops" magnet. I don't see a respectful soldier fighting for our freedom. I see an arrogant and angry dick who although might be fighting for the guy next to him, still chooses to treat anyone lacking the if you will, "traditional" rank and file disposition, with outright malice. That is not worthy of any respect and gives our military a bad name. Shameful.

You may be too chicken shit to speak ill of our troops, but I won't hesitate when I see this kind of crap going on.

Mythbusters 747 vs Taxi Cab

I only watch Mythbusters when I have time, so I haven't seen every single episode. They showed Episode 1 of their supersized special tonight. One of the stories confirmed in this episode brought back memories of trying something similar.

The Myth (Confirmed)
Jet wash can toss a vehicle through the air when behind the plane

It reminded me of my experiences in the Caribbean driving a death trap of a car called a Hyundai Atos behind jets as they prepared to take off from the airport. We'd drive behind giant KLM's and Air France jets as well as the smaller American Airlines jets. Sand would blow everywhere and the car would rock. Obviously, we never went airborne. Tourists actually have fun getting sandblasted at the beach located at the end of the runway when they're hanging out at a bar called Sunset Beach Bar. Granted you're not as close as the taxi was in this Mythbusters episode.

If you ever go to St. Maarten, I highly recommend trying this out.

By the way, I still can't get over watching them blow up that cement mixer. Wow. They blew that thing all to hell. That was fun to watch over and over again.

Screaming for the Pope???

I'm just watching the coverage of the walking talking freak show they call the Pope. At one point I heard people screaming for him in the background almost like I was watching American Idol. You've got to be joking. He's there to talk about priest sex abuse and people are acting like the Beatles are in town instead of maintaining some kind of serious demeanor. Contain yourselves people.

The dude's name is Joseph Alois Ratzinger. Ratzinger? That's not sexy. Neither is Benedict. Don't scream at him like he's a pop star or a sex symbol. He's not.

I bet there are women in the background holding up signs that read "I want to have your love child." Can you imagine?

Silly Catholics.

I would have considered meeting John Paul both an honorable and memorable experience.

This guy is just too much of an ass in comparison and he just plain looks creepy. Halloween creepy.

(time passes)

Ha!
CNN is discussing how the Pope is connecting with young people at a time when he's talking about sexual abuse of young people. I can't stop laughing. This is a comedian's dream come true. Are you kidding? Too easy to pick these gems up.

By the way, Bushie boy is a Methodist.

As for the priest shortage, it's all about market share. Simple as that.