Lords Of Salem

God, whoever s/he is, does indeed hate the lords of Salem. This isn't exactly historically accurate, as most witches at the Salem trials were jailed and then hung, and to raise the dead is the provenance of necromancy, not witchcraft, but still. A fun but depressing little Flash player video that reminds us- karma is a bitch sometimes. I recently learned that in post production is a movie version of this- except more than likely the witches win in the end. Actually, from what I've heard, the witches are immortal and work closely with demons- as far as I know, these things fall in the category of flying broomsticks- cool, but unfortunately not the reality we all know and live in. Not that I like busting Christian stones, but gosh, they make it so easy sometimes. Actually, I again feel obligated to point out, those who make headlines are not really representative of the Christian faith. Say "Christian" to most Witches, Pagans, Wiccans, or shamans and you can just about see the negative reaction. Unfortunately, many of the more... militant members of the faith like to jump all over those of different faiths. Though violence of this type is more or less negligible, psychological intimidation, control and just plain old fashioned madness sometimes hold the day. In some ways, I guess pagans are a persecuted minority- those who follow their hearts, who see the world this way and will not compromise the truth of who they are. Sounds kind of like gay people, or transgendered people, in some ways. Well, the world is what you make of it- be true to yourself, whomever or whatever that may be.

In other news, things proceed as always. I'm going in this afternoon to get my taxes done, as I'm having the devil's own time (pun not intended) trying to decipher my leave and earnings statement. There are no doubt a hundred and one little nuances of military service I'm not aware of- so hire someone who does! A specialist in their own right, so to speak.

Which brings me to the news of the day- yes, PFC Chipman is now SPC Chipman, which proves to be an interesting and challenging new chapter. With this rank comes new responsibilities- I'm not yet a sergeant, but it won't be long. I recently came across a book detailing how to maximize one's PT test, which is useful. Oddly, nothing I really didn't know already- if you want to get good at something, practice it a lot, be that something running, pushups or situps. Those who have seen me can probably guess, pushups and situps are not an issue. I think my main problem is gravity. 220 pounds of bones, muscles and organs takes a good deal of force to get moving, and a good deal to stay moving. Combine this with the fact that I have a hard time staying focused when I run, and you've got a big strong poky soldier. Not that I have any real endurance issues, it's just hard to focus on keeping pace when there's usually a hundred more interesting things going on outside and inside your head. I get to thinking about the past, where I've been, or start looking at the houses I run past, watching people play golf on the course across the street, and I tend to slow down, lost in my own daydreams. Would this be the case hauling ass across a combat zone, a wounded comrade across my shoulders? Of course not- then there are much more immediate and pressing concerns, and no doubt these would occupy my mind quite effectively. At any rate, I've been changing my workout plan a bit, adding this and that to decrease bulk and increase speed. So far, results are mixed. Seems no matter what I do, I get bulky. Now, if I was a single guy, this would have a distinct upside, but I suppose as long as I can do my job effectively and to standard, (the two are not always the same) I guess I'll call it good. Not, of course, that I settle or compromise. One can settle for the minimum, but why not do more, if you are capable of doing more? As I realize my position in the Army, I find that I could do the minimum, order Privates to do more of the workload, but no. I'm reminded of two things that stick with me- the Oath of Enlistment, and the Soldier's Creed. Both of these mention service- service to one's fellow soldiers and service to the people of this country. If you wish to lead, it seems, you must be a servant. Another nickname for my rank, a shield-like device bearing the coat of arms of the US, is a sham shield- here sham refers to ducking out of work, getting someone else to do it. Unfortunately, that does sometimes occur, and you don't need a shield to do it. However, these people tend to be wearing that shield a lot longer than those who are serious about their work- those people tend to find themselves wearing three stripes rather than a shield. Well, you've got to start somewhere, I think. This is what I like about the Army- that you're guaranteed a paycheck, and don't need to worry about losing your job as long as you play by the rules. And most of these rules make pretty good sense- don't do drugs, don't drive drunk, don't do what you're not supposed to do, in a nutshell. It's always surprising to me to hear about all the dumb things people do- was your career in the Army worth it? I rather doubt that- this is why I don't do a lot of these things, that and I've heard some pretty bad stories. The latest illicit thrill around here is one salvia divinorum- sold often as 'incense', it's commonly known as diviner's mint or magic mint. Oklahoma recently outlawed it, and I find the whole thing a little on the pathetic side. The hallucinogenic qualities of many plants and herbs have been known to science at large for centuries- and with this, the dangers associated with them. For whatever reason, we don't know exactly why or how some hallucinogens work. The point is, it's not something your brain is not designed to handle. There are ways to induce visions, euphoric states and the like without chemical assistance- this your brain is designed to handle, my rationale being that your brain can do this on its own. Is your life really that empty that you'd fill it up with a cheap and dangerous thrill? Though as a recovering alcoholic (recovered? Unclear on the concept) I suppose I know as well as anyone how heavy that chain can be, life isn't really that bad, and in most if not all cases, the risk does not outweigh the benefits. So drink your milk, stay in school, and other public service cliches. I know, I heard all that growing up too, and I'll tell you, it's not those things that affected the decisions I've made. Rather, it was trying marijuana once- I didn't like it, decided nope, this road isn't for me, and besides, people get in deep trouble for that. Screw it, I'll just go run a few miles and enjoy the endorphin rush. This too can result in damage to yourself- there are people who become addicted to working out, and overdoing it can really cause some permanent harm. Actually, on a side note, what's the most common complaint among military retirees? Knee, hip and joint problems. Running takes a toll on your body, but it's worth it, and not just because we look good in green either, ha ha.

Well, off to do taxes, then see what's shaking with the other members of the E4 Mafia today. I'm thinking some good clean fun would be welcome for all of us, we work hard, might as well play hard too.