I just spent 16 hours cleaning water out of my basement. That's what we do after heavy rains in the Mississippi River Valley. At times, the foundation was taking on water faster than my pump, my wet-vac, my wife and I could get rid of it.
Much of the time, I was thinking about something that struck me as wildly stupid when I was a seaman. We had to take military exams for promotion.They were like rating exams, except stupid, mindless and capable of being passed by a golden retriever. The question that best exemplified the idiocy of these tests ran continually through my mind. While I may be exaggerating slightly, the gist of the question was this:
What is the capacity of the P-250 pump?
A. 250 gallons per minute.
B. 25 teaspoons-full per century.
C. 37 miles per gallon.
D. One coupon per customer.
I've been laughing at that one for almost forty years, but I assure you I wasn't laughing last night.
No--I was wishing for a P-250 pump.
Frank Mullen's very unofficial source of poop, skinny and bitching for present and former U.S. Navy Musicians.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Zero Days a Week
The biggest metropolitan region near me, the Illinois/Iowa Quad Cities Area, has been selected a few times to host Navy Week. It's a big deal, highlighted by an air show by the Blue Angels and numerous live and broadcast performances by Navy Band Great Lakes.
I, and thousands of others, look forward to the excitement, the demonstrations, the visiting crews, the displays of weaponry, the vroom of the jets and the the beat of the music.
But not this year. Navy Week has been cancelled, not just here, but in cities across the country. The annual event that brings the Navy to landlocked cities is a victim of sequestration.
This is not the place to blame any certain party or faction for these across-the-board cutbacks. But it is appropriate, I think, to point out the futility of this forced cost-saving
Navy Weeks, like Navy bands, are investments. The expense of the events builds goodwill and support among the people who ultimately fund our national defense: the taxpayers.
Military musicians are taught from day one that public performances are more than just music. They are tools for building support. A military band is a visible bridges between the citizens and their armed services.
For years, Navy Weeks have proven the value of this kind of investment.
But when you take away the tools, you can't expect anyone to build bridges.
I, and thousands of others, look forward to the excitement, the demonstrations, the visiting crews, the displays of weaponry, the vroom of the jets and the the beat of the music.
But not this year. Navy Week has been cancelled, not just here, but in cities across the country. The annual event that brings the Navy to landlocked cities is a victim of sequestration.
This is not the place to blame any certain party or faction for these across-the-board cutbacks. But it is appropriate, I think, to point out the futility of this forced cost-saving
Navy Weeks, like Navy bands, are investments. The expense of the events builds goodwill and support among the people who ultimately fund our national defense: the taxpayers.
Military musicians are taught from day one that public performances are more than just music. They are tools for building support. A military band is a visible bridges between the citizens and their armed services.
For years, Navy Weeks have proven the value of this kind of investment.
But when you take away the tools, you can't expect anyone to build bridges.
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