Graduated!

[Al B. Sure!]

Do you know what yuppy means, Oerdin...?

Is the the Law of Oerdin is Always Wrong again? There's been a lot of instances of that law's veracity lately.

[Asher]

The only thing keeping Oerdin from being a yuppy is the "young" part.

[Al B. Sure!]

The only thing keeping Oerdin from being a yuppy is the "young" part.

You know, when I was growing up and I heard of yuppies and saw their depiction on TV, I was so envious. I dreamed about being a yuppie one day... a penthouse apartment downtown, being a big spender, being hip and connected, living an urbane life, dressing like a GQ model, having money at the age where you know how to spend it! Like some sort of modern-day Gatsby. Such an allure to break through the 'good ol' boy' networks and the concept of seniority, to be a renaissance man who is self-marketed, tied down to no particular corporate structure but bouncing, at-will, between whatever firm offers the biggest digits on the paycheck. Such an allure to conquer the capitalist economy at such a young age!

I think it was that image that caused me to major in finance, in fact.

[Asher]

I would never have guessed someone who wants to be a marine was so obsessed with image.

[Al B. Sure!]

I would never have guessed someone who wants to be a marine was so obsessed with image.

In all seriousness, image is a big deal in the Marine Corps. The cultivation of a certain image in the public consciousness of what a Marine is is critical to the retention of the Marine Corps as an institution. It's the reasoning behind the snazzy uniforms with sharp creases that look like they'd give you a papercut... And only Marines, of all servicemen, roll their sleeves up (in an exacting manner, mind you) on the utility uniform.

In fact, a lot of things carry over to civilian applications:
http://artofmanliness.com/2010/11/12/7-lessons-appearance-marine-corps/

I was 23 years old and attending a wedding where I was a groomsman – it was at this event that I learned firsthand how The Basic School had prepared me for more than just leading Marines. In a room with five other young men, I was the only one who knew how to properly wear black tie shirt studs, cuff-links, and the cummerbund. Needless to say, I gave a quick class and we all looked great that evening. Had we been in this situation just one year earlier, I too would have been at a loss as to what all the metal trinkets were for. So what happened to my sense of style in Quantico? Obviously the lessons I learned from various hard charging gunnery sergeants and detail-oriented officers had indirectly sharpened my understanding of civilian style and appearance.

To an outsider, a platoon of soldiers may look the same. To a 1st Sgt, he’ll look at the details of the gear and presentation and be able to quickly pick out the hard-core and good to go from the average – he’ll also take special note on the one or two who need “special” attention.

[Tupac Shakur]

he’ll also take special note on the one or two who need “special” attention.

This is a euphemism for sodomy, right?

[giblets]

Yeah, spend our taxpayer dollars on snazzy uniforms in hopes of convincing us to keep giving you money. Thanks a lot...

[Al B. Sure!]

he’ll also take special note on the one or two who need “special” attention.

This is a euphemism for sodomy, right?

While sodomy would likely, as well as this, involve a great deal of yelling, sweating, anxiousness, and possibly physical pain on the part of the one receiving... no, not sodomy.

[giblets]

A taxpayer funded fashion show... no thanks.

[Al B. Sure!]

umad? :<