Musings of the Chronologically Challenged™ Fourth Generation

 
EN BANC
Johnny Bardine asks : "Want To Waste an Hour and a Half? Watch The Debates." Amusing.

COMMANDER WILL
says "I relate to the warrior mentality." Actually, he has a bit more to say and here it is to save you the trip over. (But go over for his other observations.)

This doesn't just mean killing and breaking things. Some people are going to understand what I mean and some will go away no more enlightened than when they started reading this blog.

There are people who can watch "A Few Good Men" and be happy that justice prevails at the end, but at the same time, cheer at the rant delivered by Jack Nicholson:

"You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
"We use words like honor, code, loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it. I'd prefer you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to."

I don't know a single Marine or Naval officer or Soldier who would condone the "code red" part of this screenplay. But the screenwriter wrote those words hoping that the vast majority of the audience would be booing and hissing at the Colonel. Bad mistake. A lot of us booed and hissed at Tom Cruise. And I think it was the beginning of the end of his career. That and mistreating Nicole, joining a dorky religious cult, and making more and more stupid movies.

But seriously, I get really bent out of shape by Hollywood types pretending that you can create a character like that played by Cruise, even in the JAG corps and have us respect it on the screen. The stupid scriptwriter had me cheering for Nicholson's character.

Contrast this movie with the TV series JAG on CBS. They must have some great advisors on that series. Protocol is almost always dead on, and they actually act as though military people are professional and truly care about doing a good job, but more importantly, such people joined the military to serve and protect the people of the United States.
// posted by Will @ 10/24/2003 10:03:21 PM


BUS STOP
In a crowded city at a busy bus stop, a beautiful young woman wearing a tight mini skirt was waiting for a bus. As the bus stopped and it was her turn to get on, she became aware that her skirt was too tight to allow her leg to come up to the height of the first step of the bus. Slightly embarrassed and with a quick smile to the bus driver, she reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little, thinking that this would give her enough slack to raise her leg. She tried to take the step, only to discover that she couldn't. So, a little more embarrassed, she once again reached behind her to unzip her skirt a little more, and for the second time attempted the step. Once again, much to her chagrin, she could not raise her leg. With a little smile to the driver, she again reached behind to unzip a little more and again was unable to take the step. About this time, a large Texan who was standing behind her picked her up easily by the waist and placed her gently on the step of the bus. She went ballistic and turned to the would-be Samaritan and yelled, 'How dare you touch my body! I don't even know who you are!' The Texan smiled and drawled, 'Well, ma'am, normally I would agree with you, but after you unzipped my fly three times, I kinda figured we was friends



posted by HCL at 11:18 AM