Let's decrease or even elminate corporate subsidies to lower government deficit.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Huh? Civilian policy?

Yes, civilian policy. The budget is a matter of civilian concern.

[Al B. Sure!]

Next you'll be telling me that I should be paying for your calcium supplements so you can pass army kindergarten on the third try...

Actually, the fact that I wasn't given calcium supplements the second time might have played a role. My first time through we were given vitamins and calcium supplements galore. The second time, none such was given.

[Al B. Sure!]

And it's not Army; it's the United States Marine Corps. And it's not kindergarten; it's Officer Candidate School.

[KrazyHorse]

Did you fail at sharing or nap time?

[Al B. Sure!]

Go ahead and mock. The rest of the god damn world knows Marine OCS is the toughest entry-level military training in the entire world.

It is very selective and the attrition is 30-50% of those who actually are selected and ship.

And frankly, it was a breeze for me my second time through but my damn shins...

KH, you are a runner. You should know about how stress fractures ruin your ability to run. And they just happen sometimes.

[Al B. Sure!]

Everytime I question myself (something came up today which is making my chances of doing an abbreviated course look dim), KrazyHorse is kind enough to open his mouth and remind me that I am doing exactly what is right.

Thank you for the hate, KH. I feed off it. I love haters.

[KrazyHorse]

Go ahead and mock. The rest of the god damn world knows Marine OCS is the toughest entry-level military training in the entire world.

It is very selective and the attrition is 30-50% of those who actually are selected and ship.

And frankly, it was a breeze for me my second time through but my damn shins...

KH, you are a runner. You should know about how stress fractures ruin your ability to run. And they just happen sometimes.

I've never had a stress fracture from running despite putting in 40-50 mile weeks for months at a time.

Then again, I don't have osteoporosis.

[KrazyHorse]

Everytime I question myself (something came up today which is making my chances of doing an abbreviated course look dim), KrazyHorse is kind enough to open his mouth and remind me that I am doing exactly what is right.

Thank you for the hate, KH. I feed off it. I love haters.

I don't hate you, albie. I want you to get off your ass and do something with your life.

[KrazyHorse]

BTW, the reason for that is that I don't think you're happy ****ing around like you've been doing. There are some people who are, and I am happy for them. You are ambitious, which is fine. But it means you need to achieve things to be fulfilled, and your current lack of action isn't positive.

[Al B. Sure!]

I've never had a stress fracture from running despite putting in 40-50 mile weeks for months at a time.

Then again, I don't have osteoporosis.

I don't have osteoporosis. Flat out. I don't have it. It's not directly an issue of bone density. It's an issue of stress on the bone. Low bone density can be a contributing factor but I don't have low bone density.

A stress fracture is one type of incomplete fracture in bones. It is caused by "unusual or repeated stress" and also heavy continuous weight on the ankle or leg.

Muscle fatigue can also play a role in the occurrence of stress fractures. In a runner, each stride normally exerts large forces at various points in the legs. Each shock—a rapid acceleration and energy transfer—must be absorbed. Both muscles and bones serve as shock absorbers. However, the muscles, usually those in the lower leg, become fatigued after running a long distance and lose their ability to absorb shock. As the bones now experience larger stresses, this increases the risk of fracture.

Dr Johnathan C Reeser states that, in the US, the annual incidence of stress fractures in athletes and military recruits ranges from 5% to 30%, depending on the sport and other risk factors.

[Al B. Sure!]

I don't hate you, albie. I want you to get off your ass and do something with your life.

Oh forgive me for mistaking your genuine concern for smart-assery... must have been all the calling me a ******, calling OCS kindergarten, disparaging the Marine Corps, constantly referring to me joining the Army, etc. How could I have thought you were a hater!

You were always a smart ass, KH. When I was a teenager, you were always a smart ass.

[KrazyHorse]

Wow, the guy who wants to join the army whines when somebody yells at him for his own good.

[KrazyHorse]

Watching you over the last year has been like watching a slow motion car wreck. Get off your ass. Do something different than you've been doing for 3.5 years since college.

[notyoueither]

This is really only relevant because NPR is among the programs being targeted with loss of funding but when are people going to stop saying stupid things in public in an age when cameras are everywhere.

What stupid things did they say?

[notyoueither]

What's with this significant cuts to the military being patently obvious or something to you lot? National defense is the most basic and necessary activity of the federal government. Cut military spending at America's own peril.

Really, what else does the government do that is more basic/necessary than national defense? From a libertarian perspective, national defense is the ONLY activity the federal government should participate in.

Cause you know, we have millions of trained, killer seals just waiting for you to let your guard down.