scream-of-consciousness;
"If you're trying to change minds and influence people it's probably not a good idea to say that virtually all elected Democrats are liars, but what the hell."
I've seen them perform live maybe two dozen times since ~1964, and I've never seen an obvious miscue. I really feel for that Marine who missed the catch, and have a big oohrah for the cool corporal. Those M-1's are modified a bit for their performance purposes. The stock is naturally narrowest at the pistol grip, and if you look closely, you can see that the Drill Team has the wood custom narrowed there even more for a better grip for their performance, so the stocks can't take buttstroke type abuse. Hence the shattered stock after hitting the concrete deck. Concrete is even tougher than commie skulls, so the Marine got a two piece M1. Lt. Col. Gen. Tailgunner dick
Heartbraking to watch. I was in a drill team back in 1956 ( nowhere near as good as these guys, of course)and I feel their pain. There is a very thin line between beauty of motion and disaster in many of the human endeavors.
That kind of mistake at the India Pakistan Wagah Attari Border Closing Ceremony would probably cost you your life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ0ue-XGl9c
Fact, it happened right there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1FVBfZAgR0&NR=1 No composure there, just national shame!!! One day, yes one day, the Sand Monkeys will pay!
I'm a music teacher. I always tell my students that EVERYBODY makes mistakes. No exceptions. What separates the amateurs from the professionals is what happens after the mistake. This corporal is a pro. MichigammeDave
The only mistake the CPL made after the fact was breaking ranks to retrieve the weapon--not just once but twice. You always walk around the formation, never through. Reminds me of one of my screwups: the new CSM was being introduced to the battalion and he and the battalion commander were inspecting us. We were in our Class A's, white gloves and all, with our weapons. It was a gray, drizzly winter day at Ft Lewis, and it was cold. I was acting team leader for that day. Just as the LTC, the CSM and our CO got to my team, I heard the clatter of an M16 hitting the ground. One of my team members, probably unable to feel his hands anymore, had dropped his weapon. I stood there fuming, thinking of what I was going to do to the guy when our PLT leader, who was now in front of me, whispered through clenched teeth, "You may want to pick up your weapon CPL. And I want to see you after formation." I was doing pushups for weeks.
A marine friend of mine that I showed the Navy one that we had on here some months ago told me that the Marines use white gloves which make it harder to catch.
I've seen them perform live maybe two dozen times since ~1964, and I've never seen an obvious miscue. I really feel for that Marine who missed the catch, and have a big oohrah for the cool corporal.
ReplyDeleteThose M-1's are modified a bit for their performance purposes. The stock is naturally narrowest at the pistol grip, and if you look closely, you can see that the Drill Team has the wood custom narrowed there even more for a better grip for their performance, so the stocks can't take buttstroke type abuse. Hence the shattered stock after hitting the concrete deck. Concrete is even tougher than commie skulls, so the Marine got a two piece M1.
Lt. Col. Gen. Tailgunner dick
Good Lord! That's awful!
ReplyDeleteHeartbraking to watch.
ReplyDeleteI was in a drill team back in 1956 ( nowhere near as good as these guys, of course)and I feel their pain.
There is a very thin line between beauty of motion and disaster in many of the human endeavors.
I saw it it as a stunning example of maintaining composure in the face of disaster.
ReplyDeleteThat kind of mistake at the India Pakistan Wagah Attari Border Closing Ceremony would probably cost you your life!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ0ue-XGl9c
Fact, it happened right there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1FVBfZAgR0&NR=1
No composure there, just national shame!!!
One day, yes one day, the Sand Monkeys will pay!
Original video here
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9q7b_2tkMo
I saw it it as a stunning example of maintaining composure in the face of disaster.
ReplyDeleteAnd judging from the reaction of the crowd, so did they.
I'm a music teacher. I always tell my students that EVERYBODY makes mistakes. No exceptions. What separates the amateurs from the professionals is what happens after the mistake. This corporal is a pro.
ReplyDeleteMichigammeDave
MichigammeDave - Help - I need to learn to play the drums by this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteRKoF, Perhaps you can get a few pointers from these fellows:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7k6VYGtm8g
Justin
The only mistake the CPL made after the fact was breaking ranks to retrieve the weapon--not just once but twice. You always walk around the formation, never through.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of one of my screwups: the new CSM was being introduced to the battalion and he and the battalion commander were inspecting us.
We were in our Class A's, white gloves and all, with our weapons. It was a gray, drizzly winter day at Ft Lewis, and it was cold. I was acting team leader for that day.
Just as the LTC, the CSM and our CO got to my team, I heard the clatter of an M16 hitting the ground. One of my team members, probably unable to feel his hands anymore, had dropped his weapon.
I stood there fuming, thinking of what I was going to do to the guy when our PLT leader, who was now in front of me, whispered through clenched teeth, "You may want to pick up your weapon CPL. And I want to see you after formation."
I was doing pushups for weeks.
Goddam cheap Made in China rifles!
ReplyDeleteRalph: That was a joke, right?
ReplyDeleteM1s are all American products. These had the stocks lightened for use in fancy drills like this.
A marine friend of mine that I showed the Navy one that we had on here some months ago told me that the Marines use white gloves which make it harder to catch.
ReplyDeletethoR~
III