Author: John

Build knowledge // Improve the state of the universe for everyone // Repeat

Ahead, yet Behind

On By JohnIn aircraft, educationLeave a comment

There are another two or three days of class yet and as of 9:00 this morning, I’ve completed all labs for this term. I’m ahead. That’s good.

So what do I do with the extra time on me hands?

Put my feet up and chill?

Help everyone else out?

Or instead tackle the missed projects from last term that I was behind on. Yeah, I should address the missed projects.

Klaatu barada nikto!

On By JohnIn politics, sociologyLeave a comment

I left the Army about… uh… **mumblemumble** years ago. I’ve had several roles, positions, and a career or two since then. It was, in a way, a lifetime ago. But I still took an oath. Not just any oath. But The oath.

A legally-binding statement that you make when you enlist. It’s purposefully codified into the United States Code:

(a) Enlistment Oath.-Each person enlisting in an armed force shall take the following oath:

“I, ________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

10 U.S.C. §502 (a) (2021)

You must say the words. You must say them exactly as they’re written. It may not be readily apparent, but grammar and meaning is paramount.

Ever wonder why it doesn’t say “only do what Trump says” nor “be Biden’s bitch”?

No?

That’s because it doesn’t.

Grammatically, there are three stanzas that are presented in order of priority:

  1. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; — that’s priority one. It’s not negotiable. Defending the Constitution takes top priority. Against whom? Enemies. It doesn’t differentiate between “only foreign enemies” nor does it say “only internal enemies” nor “only Russia”. You’re defending it against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Let that resonate.
  2. that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; I will ally with those who have the same single priority — to support and defend the Constitution of the United States — unless the faith and allegiance is misguided and is an enemy of the Constitution. Then Rule #1 is the priority.
  3. and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me… — unless they aren’t actually orders or the President or officers are demonstrably enemies of the Constitution. Rule #1 is still the priority.

Say the words. Say them exactly as they’re specified.

Not sure about anyone else, but I never un-took that oath.

Emojis are Hard…

On By JohnIn sociology, sysadminLeave a comment 
<rant>

American English speakers, listen up — and, yes, this does tend to be primarily a monolingual American issue, so I’m calling you out. Why? Because languages are more than just twenty-six letters and a few numerals along with words and concepts more complex and expressive than “fuck” with every other utterance.

Sharing a sad tale of fear, isolation, and sorrow and following it with this 🤣 or this 😂 won’t convey the message or meaning that you think it will. Those are “rolling on the floor, laughing” and “tears of joy”.

Unless, of course, you’re a fan of Sadism or perhaps Schadenfreude. Self-schadenfreude? Is that a thing? I’m reminded of a line from Prisoner of Azkaban, “So you’re gonna suffer, but you’re gonna be happy about it.”

If you insist on including a few emojis in your statement, perhaps what you mean to use is this: 😢 or this 😭

And, while I’m at it — because it seems that people still have some difficulty with this new-fangled interwebs-fad and the whole emojis concept — this is the flag of the nation of Liberia: 🇱🇷

While this is the American flag: 🇺🇸

Wow, we really skewed things when we gave Latin/English/Americans an extra 146,859 characters more than the 26 letters in the English alphabet.

</rant>