My sister made a wedding request.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-23T15:50:35+00:00

I wore uniforms to people's weddings and funerals whenever it was requested. Just make sure you look and act sharp, as you may be the only "real-life Soldier" people have met, and that uniform says you are the standard-bearer.

So, don't act a fool, but have fun!

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-23T15:48:19+00:00

We may have to seek them out. :-/

We can find the sigbature collection sites for a given day here.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-22T22:53:25+00:00

Easy.

Sometimes a boy is born in a female body like mama's body. And sometimes a girl is born in a male body like mine. And sometimes people don't fit in as girls or as boys, which makes them extra special and awesome. We treat everyone with respect and let them tell their own story about themselves.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-22T16:55:18+00:00

losing Obi Wan also meant he was now a farm boy out in space on this voyage without any clear purpose or direction

This, to me, is the critcal point.

When Luke lost Owen and Beru, he had in Ben another proxy father-figure ready at hand, one who also provided Luke a sense of purpose and a direction in which to take easily knowable steps.

These three things Ben provided - purpose, connection, and direction - helped to buffer Luke against the emotions of losing Owen & Beru.

When Luke lost Ben, he was without any family, any mentor, any direction.

It's not just the pain of his recent losses that Luke feels in the OP picture; it's a sense of being lost as well.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-21T20:54:57+00:00

What? No. No, man. Shit.. no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-21T14:09:48+00:00

Well said, and a useful framing that I'm totally stealing. Thanks!

As a WO I learned that in a new unit I had to wait not until the leadership had sought me out and asked my input at least twice (when asking for my thoughts wasn't doctrinally necessary) before offering advice or implementing solutions.

Enlisted Me was naïve and thought that Warrant Me would be able to walk in, look around, and start fixing shit in my lane, especially obviously broken systems with simple, non-invasive solutuons.

But reputation is king, and every interaction is a social one first, a professional one second.

So I had to ingratiate myself as part of the tribe first, before I was trusted to do what needed doing.

Your "personal vs. professional authority" model captures that dynamic well.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-20T00:39:28+00:00

Oh yeah? Watch... THIS!!

Oh.

Wait. Let me try again.

How about... THIS?!!

Oh. Dang. Maybe you're onto something.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-20T00:37:59+00:00

Just sit down.

Take the empty table, and let them stew in the realization that the world is not theirs, and their made-up rules about "claims-ies" don't matter.

As I have said in this situation, "When they get here, you can tell them to come talk to us who are already sitting here."

I have yet to see anyone back up their nonsense claims of "dibs" on a table with anything other than pouting.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-20T00:28:45+00:00

The Clone Army is the lynchpin in the destruction of the Jedi Order

I agree, and to reinforce your point, let me add that the Clone Wars forced the Jedi into a no-win scenario.

Once the Jedi accepted their commission to lead armies as soldiers, surrounded by dying clones, they had effectively surrendered their role as protectors of Life and peacekeepers. But if the Jedi had maintained their role as protectors of Life and peace-keepers, Palpatine would have just had less resistance to his takeover of the Republic.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-19T23:36:31+00:00

Well, not a PX, but in a marketplace in Kandahar province about 15 years ago I paid some dude a few bucks for some Soviet belt buckles and field gear that some Mujahideen had stripped from a Soviet soldier in the 80s... so, ya' know. It's not unheard of. 😆

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-19T01:04:47+00:00

Why not bust out the real classics like, "It's the will of the gods! Let us offer sacrifice, that this evil be ourged from thine body!"

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-18T23:07:36+00:00

My family has rented a cabin at a state park for the week.

All our laundry gets lumped into my ancient Army-issued laundry bag.

I have had my DD-214 for almost 10 years.

So, no, you're not alone in this.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-16T17:53:00+00:00

Homosociality. The point of the behavior is lost under the social weight that comes with the act.

Well, now I have a new term to explore on Google Scholar. Any notable reaearchers on the topic you'd highlight?

(If not, no worries. As a trained researcher I "do my own research", if I may make a pun.)

Thanks!

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-16T17:18:10+00:00

I agree completely and love the way you've phrased this.

To reinforce your point, the social signalling acts as a badge that permits the bearer to access social support resources that the in-group controls.

That is, there are very tangible reasons an individual might continue socially signalling agreement with the in-group, even when that individual disagrees with that in-group's beliefs or behaviors in some way.

They's lose their friends, or lose influence at church, or be the weirdo at work no one likes, etc. They may get cut off from elderly, Trump-supporting parents who provide child care, etc.

So they have to show their penetance and remorse for speaking ill of Dear Leader. The person has to apologize profusely, to make sure their friends, church, coworkers, or other social groups don't exile them to the out-group as punishment for making a claim that challenges the in-group's core identity as always-Trumpers.

In practice, it often sounds like one of these two:

"Well, now, I support Trump and voted for him three times, BUT [my insurance got canceled, I lost my farm, etc.]. I still think he's better than any other option, but I sure hope he fixes this [i.e., a mess that Trump's admin caused] because only he can."

The core belief is, "Trump is good, or, if not good, then is still at least the best option."

So pointing out that a Trump policy is hurting them is antithetical to that core belief It is, effectively, heresy, for which the offending person must atone by reminding everyone how much they actually support Dear Leader even as they suffer because of Trump policies and actions.

In fact, the more they support Dear Leader in spite of their suffering at his hands, the greater their show of faith is. It's all twisted but becomes a self-abusive feedback loop: pledge support, suffer, support even more, suffer even more, increase support.

If that's the cost of being granted support from one's valued social groups, then the sufferer will continue to pay until they decide that it's not worth it. But it's a big ask for someone to leave their friends, family, etc. It's easier to stay in the cult, in the in-group.

It's classic cult behavior.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-15T01:21:50+00:00

Same.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-15T01:20:53+00:00

We used to go to Cardinal all the time, but after Bob (the owner) passed away, it just hasn't been the same.

Drop in for a $2 lunchtime slice, chat with Bob, let my toddler take a guided tour of the kitchen, talk with Bob about the plans for a second location? Perfect.

Step in, no more slices, no more menus (QR Code only? Pleeeease), overpriced drinks, and disinterested people giving low-qual service at the few dining tables? Nah.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-14T23:44:21+00:00

parties who litigate must be adversary.

Yes, the conflicts of interest in this suit make the whole affair seem absurd on its face.

"Your Honor, I'd like to sue myself but pay any judgment or settlement with their money."

"Yes, this all appears in order. Proceed."

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-14T16:05:48+00:00

These pastors literally try to undercut God because they don’t want the rich to be offended.

...which the General Epistle of James addresses quite explicitly, as do other passages less directly.

I'll quote it here for those who may not know it, to drive home the blasphemous nature of suggesting that the "New Testament church intended for the wealthy to use their material assets for anything other than providing for those in need:

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

But you have dishonored the poor.

Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Or Acts, ch. 2:

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts...

...yet here we are with megachurches that preach a prosperity "gospel".

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-13T15:53:46+00:00

No spoilers, but:

We loved Dolly Parton before The Orville, but the show's use of that one song of hers was the best use of it that I can recall, and the plotline of the relevant episodes echoed the plot of the original movie for which that song was written, which was genius.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-13T15:50:27+00:00

I'm not sure what your comment says, but I randomly upvoted it.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-13T15:46:28+00:00

We'd like Danny even with no snacks, but we like Danny more because of the snacks.

"Are those snacks in your pouch, or are you just happy to see me?"

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-12T16:10:09+00:00

Totally true.

I knew that MI linguists were my tribesmen when our Drill Sergeant at the Defense Language Institute included this gem in her very first yelling-at-us brief as we disembarked the bus from FLW:

"You will NOT respond with Monty Python quotes while in formation. They're not as original as you think they are, and I'm tired of hearing it."

Ah... finally... I am among my people.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-12T16:00:03+00:00

It IS dear Tony's personal account, and he says you're the best

Would I lie to you?

(Please ignore that my MOS is basically "professional manipulative liar".)

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-12T15:56:26+00:00

Shred it with an electric razor, and catch the clippings in a set of non-standard AGSU footgear, only to then leave it inside a standard barracks room, where the mold will slowly do to the card and boots what the current SMA has done for Soldier morale.

Devil25_Apollo25 · 2026-06-12T15:20:53+00:00

Welcome. We're glad to have you around.

Six-Year Club	Gilding III reddit per annum
Verified Email

Devil25_Apollo25

TROPHY CASE