An interesting idea..

During my first semester here at the Academy I took an American History class taught by a liberal officer, a Lieutenant. We didn't see eye to eye on a lot of things, but nevertheless he is a very smart man with some very valid points. One day he gave us an idea that has stuck with me for a while, and which I've been thinking a lot about here recently. He told us that with all economical issues that our country is facing right now, that he had started to think about the socialistic movement that we seem to be involved in. At the time there were all sorts of crazy rumors floating around, and President Obama had only recently been elected. The following is his idea, paraphrased (since I don't remember the exact working over a year later).

"The funny thing about wealthy people is that usually there is some substance in their personality and mindset. For example, I [LT McSorley] believe that even if America were to somehow collect the entirety of money from the citizens, total it, and redistribute it to each citizen - giving an equal amount of money and capital to each man woman and child - that in only a few years it would be back to what it was. The same wealthy people would be wealthy again, and those that were poor beforehand would be poor again. It's an interesting idea, but one I truly believe. I think that those who are destitute and don't have much money normally would get their share and waste most of it. I don't think they'd put it to good use, whereas those who are more wealthy would take better care of it because they are more conscientious with their spending. Obviously, a few years is too short of a time for the moguls to amass the empires that they had before the redistribution, but they would definitely be leaders in the total wealth realm of things. "

Again, this is just an idea that was presented by one of my history teachers. But I found it interesting. As those who know me would tell you, I'm not all that consumed by a burning desire to make the big bucks - heck I joined the military! I prefer to pursue a life of personal and spiritual reward, as opposed to monetary reward. However, in terms of the socialistic movement going on in our country, I think this idea deserves some thought. Socialism just doesn't work, history shows that, and this is one of the many theories that also supports that.

Don't worry, I think I'm done with political posts for a while.

-Storm

Sammy Davis

This past weekend my service academy participated in the JSACWC competition, a combat weapons teams competition for all the service academies. It was probably the most enjoyable competition I've been in in years, I really had a blast. There were 8 stages of combined rifle (m16), pistol (baretta m9) and shotgun courses. The best part of the competition, however, was Sammy Davis. If you have never heard of Sammy Davis, he is the medal of honor recipient who's story was used in creating Forest Gump. Sammy Davis was in attendance at the competition, and I had the opportunity to shake his hand a few times, talk with him some, and take pictures with him (of course). What an amazing guy, I am truly honored to have gotten to meet him and hear his story. Here's a link to the wikipedia page dedicated to him, although it doesn't do him justice: Sammy Davis

All in all, the competition went great. We didn't place very high compared to our competitors, but then again we are severely underfunded compared to them. We're sporting standard issue M16s (except for the team members who bought their own guns and equipment) whereas Army were firing customized M4s with $1000 ACOG sights. No comparison there, really. Regardless, I was really just going for the experience, and in that regard I measure the competition to be a huge success. And as an added bonus, we all got prizes. For me it was a new pair of Oakley shooting glasses, a one-point sling for my rifle (which I had been looking to buy), a gun cleaning kit, and various other prizes. One person on our team got a new rifle, Aimoint sights, and a super nice ACOG setup that he can put on his competition rifle. Pretty amazing stuff. I can't wait until next year!

-Storm

Weirdos...

I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine the other day, and as far as validity goes, I can't really attest to how much truth there is in his argument, but I decided to share it anyway since I found it rather intriguing. So it went something like this

Him: I have a question for you.

Me: Alright, shoot.

Him: What makes weirdos so...weird?

Me: Well I guess the fact that their behavior is abnormal when compared to the general population... why?

Him: I was thinking, and it really doesn't make sense. How many weirdos, for lack of a better word, do you know?

Me: (laughing) I know plenty. I was homeschooled, and now I go to a military academy.

Him: Exactly. If we deem a person weird because their behavior is abnormal compared to the general population, yet we know tons of people who's behavior is weird, is it really weird? Think about it. Almost ever social group you know has at least one person who everyone thinks is "weird". I would challenge you to name even one social group that you know of without one. In fact, the only place I could think of that might never have a social group is a fictitious television show, and even then, most shows have at least one weirdo in them. Take The Office, for example. There's Dwight Schrute, who is the token weirdo, but almost everyone has their own perks that make then appear quite weird. The only half-way normal ones are Pam and Jim, for a grand total of 2 normal people out of the 10+ office staff. So are the weird ones really normal?

Me: ...

Me: So are you telling me that those of us whom I consider to be normal are actually the weird ones?

Him: Well, not necessarily, but maybe there really isn't such a thing as weirdos.

So this got me thinking. Now, in my book, there still is and always will be weird people. There's no getting around that. But the conversation did make me think twice about how I treat other people, and if nothing else perhaps it challenged me to not be quite so judgmental when forming opinions about other people. Food for thought...

-Storm

Things

Few things compare to spring after a long winter. Seriously, this past weekend was the most beautiful weekend we've had since sometime last September, and as a result, almost everyone I have seen today appears quite refreshed. At least compared to normal (the academy is still a grind, but relatively speaking - much refreshed). I love spring and fall so much, however summer is also great. Basically what I'm driving at is this: I love the heat. I grew up in West Texas where summers meant a seat buckle so hot that it would literally burn you. Cassette tapes (yes, I remember the cassette tapes) that would melt if left exposed in the car during the day. Sidewalks hot enough to cook an egg (not recommended for eating, pretty gritty...).

Suffice it to say, I love the warmth returning!

Also I worked out for the first time in about 2 weeks (the time it has been since I contracted the poison oak). That also feels amazing, I was really beginning to miss the workouts. Not that I am some jacked-up gym rat, but at the same time I do enjoy working out everyday, even if I only work out for about an hour a day.

Hopefully the weather and poison oak continue to improve, I'm ready for summer already!

Identity Theft

It appears that I have fallen victim to identity theft again. This time, the culprit apparently used my name and address, etc, to set up a credit card from some other company and proceeded to charge it to an online casino based out of England. I just don't get it. What kind of a low-life chooses identity theft anyway? Have they no conscience? I would much sooner become homeless and die from starvation than commit identity theft for food, much less commit identity theft to GAMBLE. How about a strong shot of honesty, whoever you are who is doing this to me (this isn't the first time), I hope you realize that you have no future in this world. If I ever find out YOUR identity I will personally see to it that the world knows your shame. Meet me face to face and we'll see how clever you really are.

-Storm (is building and heading your way)

Not a whole lot to mention today

So there's not a whole lot going on that is new. My poison ivy/oak/sumac is getting better, slowly, but is still pretty bad. School is picking back up, in fact, last night my brilliant friend and I spent 3 and 1/2 hours working on our dynamics homework. It's great to be back (that's sarcasm, boys and girls).

On a more interesting note, I get to construct some fiberglass this afternoon, as part of our Engineering Material Science class' lab. That, at least, should be pretty cool. And on a completely unrelated note, I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL SUMMER!

-Storm

Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac

As the last post says, I got poison ivy or poison oak, poison sumac, something, over my spring break. Pretty much blows, my right arm has several spots that are completely blistered up and oozing yellow stuff. So I went to the sick bay this morning and got 4 meds - calamine, aluminum acetate, steroids, and a form of benadryl. Hopefully this stuff clears up soon...until it does I'm missing my professional rescuer classes as well as a lot of sleep, and homework is even more of a chore.

I spent an hour medicating my arms this morning after sick bay (skipped a class to do so), and they're feeling much better right now, hopefully that means they're starting to heal...

Two things

So, two things to write about today. First, a quote that I find interesting:
"When I meet a stranger, I expect them to act a little strange" - Jenni James
I thought this was interesting, because normally when I meet someone it is hard not to make first-impression character judgments. But they are, after all, strangers, and so it would be normal for them to act a bit strange. Anyway, I thought that was an interesting point to make. So thank you, Ms James, for that nugget of advice.

Secondly, in keeping with tradition, I have returned from leave with some form of bodily ailment. This time, poison ivy on my arms (and it appears, behind my left ear - don't ask me because I don't know). It seems that I am perpetually ill when I return from leave back home. This time it is poison ivy, last time it was a rolled ankle that I could barely walk on. Another time it was an ear infection so bad that I had to have a myringotomy. Before that, a terrible cold/sore throat. The times that I have returned sick way outnumber the very few times I have returned well. I'm sitting here with bandages all over my arms and I look like I am terminally ill with these gauze pads that are discolored from the seepage of the blisters. I can't wait for classes to start on Monday...

So that just about gets it for me tonight. Time to watch a movie, or maybe just go to bed. A ton of procrastinated homework awaits me tomorrow!
-Storm

Intuitively Obvious to the Casual Observer

A phrase that I am finding to be more and more common as I further my mechanical engineering education is "intuitively obvious to the casual observer". I am not a fan of this phrase for two reasons. First, hardly ever is the situation intuitively obvious, especially to a casual observer. The most recent example I have seen of this phrase was in one of my math books where it had a differential equation, which, as is supposedly intuitively obvious to the casual observer, could be simplified to a common form. But that simplification took 3 pages, and involved many algebra skills that I had long forgotten. Intuitively obvious. Sure.
The second reason that I am not a fan of that phrase is because I imagine the author, who, clearly, must be a genius, is just sitting there chuckling to himself as he writes it. He either knows it's not intuitively obvious and is just writing that to get under the skin of people like me, or it really was intuitively obvious to him and he knows that he is part of the 1% of America to which that phrase applies. Either way, the author is probably getting a good laugh knowing that people like me will spend far too much time trying to understand what is apparently "intuitively obvious to the casual observer"!

...and now I'm blogging about math phrases. I should get out more
-Storm

Update on Jewel

Alright, so first off let me say that the conversation I had with Hope concerning Jewel took place late at night many weeks ago. And the more I thought about what I had told myself and you all that I would do, the less it sounded like a good idea. Not that I am scared and am trying to talk myself out of it, but it seems like I could possibly ruin any hope I had for Jewel if I go out and tell her how I feel. And here's why: we don't know each other very well.

I talked with Hope again last week and told her about what I was thinking. I half-expected her to say that I am just scared and that I should go ahead with it, but to my surprise she agreed with me. She said that it is much harder to find out a guy likes her and then try to work backwards in the relationship, getting to know him after knowing he likes her, than it is to go the other way. And, quite frankly, highly inconsiderate in her eyes. So her advice to me was to spend more time talking with her and just let God take care of the rest. Sounds like a good plan to me, and it was confirmation to what I had been thinking. It really is good to have friends who you can be open with!

In lieu of meeting with Jewel and telling her how I feel I am now just going to meet with her, as I do with most of my friends when I come back home for a while. Obviously if it comes up I won't lie about my feelings, but I will most likely not bring them up and force them upon her. We'll see, God never fails to surprise me, but I don't think we'll be having that conversation at this point!

Until next time, yall have a great spring break! - Storm