Chapter 32
521
The Sec of Defense
Sizes the choir
Of higher-ranked officers
As is required
523
The number of majors,
Colonels, and so on
Depends on the total
They have to go on
525
Even officers
A certain percent
Must be lower ranking
Which may cause dissent
526
I could write how many
General and flagged
Officers are specified
But interest has sagged
527
The Prez may decide to
Ignore all these counts
Deciding, in wartime,
On any amounts
528
Officer calculus
Ignores the top guys
In Central Intelligence
'Cause they're in disguise
Chapter 33
531
Original appointments
I assume are defined
As first time for people
And not a new kind
532
This section describes
The qualifications
To receive the appointment
In all situations
533
Credit for years served
Depends on the service
So many ways of juggling
It makes me quite nervous
541
Academy students,
A certain percent,
Choose to which service
To make commitment
Chapter 33A
571
This chapter talks about
Officers, warrant
Five percent are W-5
And ninety-five aren't
572
It fiddles around
With how to count credit
What service to apply
And what service to edit
573
A board may recommend
That you get promoted
You find out right after
The members have voted
574
Promotions are limited
So you have to compete:
How many hot dogs a
Minute can you eat?
575
No more than ten percent -
With minor exception -
Are promoted, regardless,
On further reflection
576
They'll make you jump hoops
And they'll make you do dishes
In the end they'll assign you
The grade that they wishes
577
Once up for promotion,
If you fail to receive,
You get re-considered
'Less soon going to leave.
578
The list of promotions
Is ordered by seniority
And more senior candidates
Are given priority
579
A name may be removed,
The person's still eligible,
If once, just be patient,
If twice, then it's terrible
580
Twice failed or removed,
Means early retirement
Somehow, you haven't
Fulfilled their requirements
580a
In the nineties, a program
Of reduction was redacted
And orders to cut officers
Apparently enacted
581
An officer may retire
According to some ruling
The Sec can delay it
No delegating, no fooling
582
These rules don't apply
To officers who are active -
So they only promote officers
Who are inactive?
583
Definitions are given
To help you with reading
The definition of "warrant"
Is what I am needing
Chapter 35
601
Higher up positions are
Specific and admirable,
Why is a specific high
Position called "general"?
603
In war, high positions
May be anyone
Armchair generals don't
Count for this, son
604
Star-bellied officers
With four stars on tums
Must first have received
Recommendations
<- Previous | Next ->
Monday, November 27, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Talking About Blogging Shouldn't Equal Talking About Audience
A while ago I published an article called Ten Lesser Known Secrets of Blogging. Jim added a comment that something about the post, and indeed the entire direction of my blog, bothered him. I have thought about this for a while now.
The truth is that something about the post bothered me, too, even as I was posting it. It's not that I don't think it was a good post, or contained some useful points, it's that it was a little ...
The word that popped into my head is "creepy". Why? Because in talking about tips for better blogging, I perforce was delving into the relationship between the blogger and the audience. In other words, I was talking explicitly about how to analyze your readers habits and try to react to their habits - that is creepy, when it is made explicit.
It is also deeply wrong as a primary focus.
When singers and songwriters talk about their craft, they talk about tabs, songs, rhymes, meters, maybe instruments and gigs - very rarely do they talk about how to maximize the audience or select material for the audience. It's not that that's not important, or doesn't get talked about at all. But it really should be well well down on the list of important aspects of the craft. First and foremost should be the craft.
The same applies to authors and film-makers. There's a word for those who spend too much time thinking about their audience and not enough about their craft. It's called "pandering".
It's understandable, on some sense. People want to try to break into the business. To do this, they either have something that can become popular, or something really good that gets heard. It has to get heard. So marketing is important. But for goodness sake, there needs to be something of value. Writing "hits" is bad enough, but writing "hits" and then exposing it as such is simply crass and commercial.
Is that what I'm doing?
When singers, authors, and so on talk about their craft, they talk about the content, the tools, the experience. So how come so many people who talk about blogging talk about audience share?
So many of the blog posts about blogging are about how to get the links, how to break it big, how to get into the A-list, how to make the money, how to get the readers, how to get the comments, and so on and so forth. There's a place for this, but it should be well subservient to how to write well, how to use the right tools, how to format, how to provide content, how to ensure quality, etc.
The fact that the reverse is true is not unsurprising. It is symptomatic of the endless waves of greed and gold-rushes we experience in a capitalist society. One day someone makes it big doing X, so along come a thousand people telling everyone else how they can make it big doing X. Or someone invents a new art form Y, and a thousand of people come along telling everyone else how to market Y, utilize Y, leverage Y, add Y to increase your market share.
Inevitably, the art follows. First comes the breakthrough, then the stories of successes, then the rush and explosion. A while later, as the bubbles begin to settle, you find people, like me in this post, talking about how it's about the art, not the money. The waves recede, people get to work, and so on, until the next wave crashes. It's only after the rush that you find out how sustainable the form is.
The same thing is happening in video games. The rush, the market shares, the target audiences, and so on until you get the reactionary voices who begin to cry about art and creating sustainable works. The bubbles begin to settle and we start taking the media seriously.
Blogging is just another media form, and like every other form, it shouldn't be about leveraging your readership. It should be about the art and the craft. That doesn't mean that leveraging your readership is ever going to be wholly unimportant. But it must be placed in perspective. First and foremost, we need to be creating value.
Jim, I'm trying.
Yehuda
The truth is that something about the post bothered me, too, even as I was posting it. It's not that I don't think it was a good post, or contained some useful points, it's that it was a little ...
The word that popped into my head is "creepy". Why? Because in talking about tips for better blogging, I perforce was delving into the relationship between the blogger and the audience. In other words, I was talking explicitly about how to analyze your readers habits and try to react to their habits - that is creepy, when it is made explicit.
It is also deeply wrong as a primary focus.
When singers and songwriters talk about their craft, they talk about tabs, songs, rhymes, meters, maybe instruments and gigs - very rarely do they talk about how to maximize the audience or select material for the audience. It's not that that's not important, or doesn't get talked about at all. But it really should be well well down on the list of important aspects of the craft. First and foremost should be the craft.
The same applies to authors and film-makers. There's a word for those who spend too much time thinking about their audience and not enough about their craft. It's called "pandering".
It's understandable, on some sense. People want to try to break into the business. To do this, they either have something that can become popular, or something really good that gets heard. It has to get heard. So marketing is important. But for goodness sake, there needs to be something of value. Writing "hits" is bad enough, but writing "hits" and then exposing it as such is simply crass and commercial.
Is that what I'm doing?
When singers, authors, and so on talk about their craft, they talk about the content, the tools, the experience. So how come so many people who talk about blogging talk about audience share?
So many of the blog posts about blogging are about how to get the links, how to break it big, how to get into the A-list, how to make the money, how to get the readers, how to get the comments, and so on and so forth. There's a place for this, but it should be well subservient to how to write well, how to use the right tools, how to format, how to provide content, how to ensure quality, etc.
The fact that the reverse is true is not unsurprising. It is symptomatic of the endless waves of greed and gold-rushes we experience in a capitalist society. One day someone makes it big doing X, so along come a thousand people telling everyone else how they can make it big doing X. Or someone invents a new art form Y, and a thousand of people come along telling everyone else how to market Y, utilize Y, leverage Y, add Y to increase your market share.
Inevitably, the art follows. First comes the breakthrough, then the stories of successes, then the rush and explosion. A while later, as the bubbles begin to settle, you find people, like me in this post, talking about how it's about the art, not the money. The waves recede, people get to work, and so on, until the next wave crashes. It's only after the rush that you find out how sustainable the form is.
The same thing is happening in video games. The rush, the market shares, the target audiences, and so on until you get the reactionary voices who begin to cry about art and creating sustainable works. The bubbles begin to settle and we start taking the media seriously.
Blogging is just another media form, and like every other form, it shouldn't be about leveraging your readership. It should be about the art and the craft. That doesn't mean that leveraging your readership is ever going to be wholly unimportant. But it must be placed in perspective. First and foremost, we need to be creating value.
Jim, I'm trying.
Yehuda
U. S. Armed Forces Code, in Verse: Chapters 22, 23, 31
Chapter 22
441
The Director of NIMA must
Feel insignificant
Half this section
Reassures he's important
442
NIMA makes every kind
Of map and pic
This section says these
Should be accurate
443
Its Director spends money
To sell its info -
To sell? Isn't that the
Reverse of how cash flows?
444
The CIA sometimes
Gives NIMA support
Service and personnel
And things of that sort
451
The Defense Secretary
Asks NIMA for charts
And maps, or buys them
If sold with pink hearts
452
Pilot charts state
By whom they were made;
Accept responsibility,
Don't be afraid
453
These maps can be sold
As a matter of course
And profits used to pay an
International source
454
They trade these maps
With some other nation
A mutual exchange of
Geo information
455
They sell maps at ratios
One to five hundred K
But no finer, and only if
The Sec says OK
456
Map information is
Presented face value
You can't sue for errors
This section won't allow you
457
Any information that
NPIC collected
From the sixties or earlier
May not be inspected
461
Another strange section
About unions or something
And whether to consult them
Before they start hiring
462
They manage schools
To train new recruits
And help them to learn how
To button up suits
467
Definitions are given
For your conveniency
NIMA stands for National Imagery
And Mapping Agency
Chapter 23
480
Whenever reports are
Submitted to Congress
A copy is also sent
By email; that's progress
481
Surveys are conducted
Using methods not hard
To ensure no discrimination -
Except the Coast Guard
482
Every quarter year
Readiness is reported
On training, morale,
And other things assorted
483
Another report is
For funds that got transferred
All details of from where
And to where are answered
484
Each year the cadet who
Most often complains
Must go 'round the country
And count the airplanes
485
Joint war games played
With another armed force
Are reported so lessons
Can be reinforced
486
Each four years strategies
Are sent for review
And new ones are planned for
A decade or two
487
How time was spent
Is carefully checked
That length of each mission
And service was correct
488
On even years, they check
The magnetic spectrum -
It might vanish, and they're ready
For whatever may come
489
Money is budgeted for
Each military museum
They already spent it
You may as well see 'um
Chapter 31
501
This chapter talks about
Enlistment, and re-,
And goes on for too long
As you will soon see
502
Before any officer, an
Enlistee can swear,
And I don't mean they curse -
They do that anywhere
503
Recruiters may show up
At a high school or two
Or you may see a poster
"Uncle Sam needs you"
504
The insane and the drunk,
Felons, and deserters
Are usually not welcomed
To join by recruiters
505
Seventeen to thirty-five
(Seventeen, with consent)
Up to six years for minors
Or for re-enlistment
506
A term of service may
Come to be extended
To six months after
Any warfare is ended
507
You continue your service
While injured or sick
If not from misconduct
Or some sort of trick
508
To re-enlist you must be
Honest and faithful
The opposite is usually
Considered disgraceful
509
Voluntary extension
Is up to four years
All benefits will wait
So please have no fears
510
For a limited time,
So you better act now,
There's a bonus for signing
This section tells how
511
You can also sign up
And first finish college
They'll even give stipends
To help you gain knowledge
513
To find length of service
This isn't the one,
It's more clearly written
In 651
514
You can't be offered money
Beyond what your pay is,
You can't say you're coming
And send one of your nieces
515
When trying to re-enlist
An officer, warrant,
Retains rank, unless dismissed
For actions abhorrent
516
If starting as one thing,
And midshipman later,
You continue as you started
Less time on the freighter
517
A small fraction of soldiers
Can make the big bucks
The other 96 percent
Are plain out of luck
518
Temporary enlistment
(We're told what that's soon)
Can be made only during
A month with a moon
519
Temporary is explained
To be usually limited
To adults during wartime
Plus a six month period
520
During recruitment
You're given a test
They only want average
People, more or less
520b
In general, funds may be
Used to enlist
You can give me the money
And I wouldn't resist
520c
If I don't get the money,
Which would be a big shame,
They'll use it for goodies
And to play party games
<- Previous | Next ->
441
The Director of NIMA must
Feel insignificant
Half this section
Reassures he's important
442
NIMA makes every kind
Of map and pic
This section says these
Should be accurate
443
Its Director spends money
To sell its info -
To sell? Isn't that the
Reverse of how cash flows?
444
The CIA sometimes
Gives NIMA support
Service and personnel
And things of that sort
451
The Defense Secretary
Asks NIMA for charts
And maps, or buys them
If sold with pink hearts
452
Pilot charts state
By whom they were made;
Accept responsibility,
Don't be afraid
453
These maps can be sold
As a matter of course
And profits used to pay an
International source
454
They trade these maps
With some other nation
A mutual exchange of
Geo information
455
They sell maps at ratios
One to five hundred K
But no finer, and only if
The Sec says OK
456
Map information is
Presented face value
You can't sue for errors
This section won't allow you
457
Any information that
NPIC collected
From the sixties or earlier
May not be inspected
461
Another strange section
About unions or something
And whether to consult them
Before they start hiring
462
They manage schools
To train new recruits
And help them to learn how
To button up suits
467
Definitions are given
For your conveniency
NIMA stands for National Imagery
And Mapping Agency
Chapter 23
480
Whenever reports are
Submitted to Congress
A copy is also sent
By email; that's progress
481
Surveys are conducted
Using methods not hard
To ensure no discrimination -
Except the Coast Guard
482
Every quarter year
Readiness is reported
On training, morale,
And other things assorted
483
Another report is
For funds that got transferred
All details of from where
And to where are answered
484
Each year the cadet who
Most often complains
Must go 'round the country
And count the airplanes
485
Joint war games played
With another armed force
Are reported so lessons
Can be reinforced
486
Each four years strategies
Are sent for review
And new ones are planned for
A decade or two
487
How time was spent
Is carefully checked
That length of each mission
And service was correct
488
On even years, they check
The magnetic spectrum -
It might vanish, and they're ready
For whatever may come
489
Money is budgeted for
Each military museum
They already spent it
You may as well see 'um
Chapter 31
501
This chapter talks about
Enlistment, and re-,
And goes on for too long
As you will soon see
502
Before any officer, an
Enlistee can swear,
And I don't mean they curse -
They do that anywhere
503
Recruiters may show up
At a high school or two
Or you may see a poster
"Uncle Sam needs you"
504
The insane and the drunk,
Felons, and deserters
Are usually not welcomed
To join by recruiters
505
Seventeen to thirty-five
(Seventeen, with consent)
Up to six years for minors
Or for re-enlistment
506
A term of service may
Come to be extended
To six months after
Any warfare is ended
507
You continue your service
While injured or sick
If not from misconduct
Or some sort of trick
508
To re-enlist you must be
Honest and faithful
The opposite is usually
Considered disgraceful
509
Voluntary extension
Is up to four years
All benefits will wait
So please have no fears
510
For a limited time,
So you better act now,
There's a bonus for signing
This section tells how
511
You can also sign up
And first finish college
They'll even give stipends
To help you gain knowledge
513
To find length of service
This isn't the one,
It's more clearly written
In 651
514
You can't be offered money
Beyond what your pay is,
You can't say you're coming
And send one of your nieces
515
When trying to re-enlist
An officer, warrant,
Retains rank, unless dismissed
For actions abhorrent
516
If starting as one thing,
And midshipman later,
You continue as you started
Less time on the freighter
517
A small fraction of soldiers
Can make the big bucks
The other 96 percent
Are plain out of luck
518
Temporary enlistment
(We're told what that's soon)
Can be made only during
A month with a moon
519
Temporary is explained
To be usually limited
To adults during wartime
Plus a six month period
520
During recruitment
You're given a test
They only want average
People, more or less
520b
In general, funds may be
Used to enlist
You can give me the money
And I wouldn't resist
520c
If I don't get the money,
Which would be a big shame,
They'll use it for goodies
And to play party games
<- Previous | Next ->
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Weekend Gaming
We did game after all, but not as I had hoped.
The family had some young boys, ages 5 and 7. I neglected to inform them that the games closet was not a toy closet; people get easily confused about that issue.
I looked up and found him with Lord of the Rings the Confrontation open, trying to understand how to play. I tried to help, but had to convince his father after a bit that this was not for kids.
The kid himself asked, after trying to understand the game, "Don't you have anything with dice?"
And I only noticed after a few rounds of play, when he played one of his cards (and after losing Frodo twice in a row), that the card he played had a wet and ragged corner. I looked up and yes, he was biting the cards.
I put away the game and brought out Checkers for him to play with his father while I went back to the table and downed a cup of wine.
Elkins coming, shortly.
Update: The Elkins have come and gone, and we did NOT game Balderdash. Sharron insisted on us playing something called "conversation", which had totally lame rules and no freakin' tension or discernible strategy. And it was long, man, and I could never tell when it was my turn. The game ended without any clear winner (although I think I was losing).
I give it a 4 on the BGG scale. Willing to give it another shot sometime, but it need some serious rules revamping or an expansion. Even some nice bits would make it more enjoyable.
Yehuda
The family had some young boys, ages 5 and 7. I neglected to inform them that the games closet was not a toy closet; people get easily confused about that issue.
I looked up and found him with Lord of the Rings the Confrontation open, trying to understand how to play. I tried to help, but had to convince his father after a bit that this was not for kids.
The kid himself asked, after trying to understand the game, "Don't you have anything with dice?"
And I only noticed after a few rounds of play, when he played one of his cards (and after losing Frodo twice in a row), that the card he played had a wet and ragged corner. I looked up and yes, he was biting the cards.
I put away the game and brought out Checkers for him to play with his father while I went back to the table and downed a cup of wine.
Elkins coming, shortly.
Update: The Elkins have come and gone, and we did NOT game Balderdash. Sharron insisted on us playing something called "conversation", which had totally lame rules and no freakin' tension or discernible strategy. And it was long, man, and I could never tell when it was my turn. The game ended without any clear winner (although I think I was losing).
I give it a 4 on the BGG scale. Willing to give it another shot sometime, but it need some serious rules revamping or an expansion. Even some nice bits would make it more enjoyable.
Yehuda
Friday, November 24, 2006
The Good Neighbors Blog Carnival
I am attempting to start a new blog carnival, the Good Neighbors blog carnival. I would like it to have a selection of posts from bloggers around the Middle East, posts that do not have to do with praising or condemning any particular people, government, or political process.
It is currently scheduled to be published every two weeks on Thursday.
I'm hoping to get it hosted on the Good Neighbors blog, if Yael will do me the honors.
The carnival is here.
Yehuda
It is currently scheduled to be published every two weeks on Thursday.
I'm hoping to get it hosted on the Good Neighbors blog, if Yael will do me the honors.
The carnival is here.
Yehuda
Christian Pilgrims Coming
For dinner this evening we are having over two new shul members, as well as two more visiting Christian pilgrims.
Some of our Christian pilgrim guests have come from a myriad of sources. We basically volunteer whenever someone asks if anyone can host. It's easy when your kids are already in their teen years or older.
Also, my downstairs neighbor is a tour guide, and he gets a lot of Christian touring groups.They are friends of Israel and good tourists. He sends some of his group to local families on Friday evenings to experience an authentic Jewish traditional meal and maybe learn a little more about Jews. Of course, we also learn a little about them, too.
My neighbor gives some pre-shabbat training to our guests: how it is inappropriate to try to convert us, make us see the light, or even mention the word Jesus too often, lest we feel uncomfortable or get offended. He also describes a few of our rituals, and some things that we do or can't do on shabbat. With one exception, our guests have been lovely and pleasant. The exception praised Jesus just a few times too many for me during dinner; this combined with him being a rather dominant conversationalist.
I don't expect to play much; maybe tomorrow afternoon. But on Saturday evening I invited the Elkins to join us for a game of Balderdash. This will hopefully be my first play.
The 64 year-old woman who blew herself up in Gaza yesterday has essentially made life more difficult for the last remaining segment of the Palestinian population that was, until now, not subject to extensive security checks. Way to go.
But I noticed in the news article that her 52 year-old daughter tried to justify her actions. 52 year-old daughter. 64 year-old mother. 9 months of pregnancy. You do the math. Update: the source was here, but they have since removed the alleged age of the daughter.
I link here to Wil Wheaton's report from Gen-Con. For those not in the blogging know, Wil played the hated Wesley Crusher in the first few seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He loathed many of the lines and directions that he was forced to perform and has been trying to escape from the shadow of that role for the last eighteen years. He is actually a cool guy, a great blogger, and a major geek sympathizer.
The Deseret News out of Utah does a complete job on Eurogames.
Joystiq also goes non-digital with a post for the holiday season on great analog games.
Another killing, this time in New Zeland, over a board game, this time Scrabble.
The Union Tribune in San Diego notes an 11 year-old Chess player, whose mother claims that Chess has helped her son's focus, concentration, logic, math, and memory skills. I note the article only because one of the reporter's gushing praises of the young player is, "He has memorized each of the 64 squares on a chess board." Wow! I ... I ... I'm not sure what that means.
Yehuda
Some of our Christian pilgrim guests have come from a myriad of sources. We basically volunteer whenever someone asks if anyone can host. It's easy when your kids are already in their teen years or older.
Also, my downstairs neighbor is a tour guide, and he gets a lot of Christian touring groups.They are friends of Israel and good tourists. He sends some of his group to local families on Friday evenings to experience an authentic Jewish traditional meal and maybe learn a little more about Jews. Of course, we also learn a little about them, too.
My neighbor gives some pre-shabbat training to our guests: how it is inappropriate to try to convert us, make us see the light, or even mention the word Jesus too often, lest we feel uncomfortable or get offended. He also describes a few of our rituals, and some things that we do or can't do on shabbat. With one exception, our guests have been lovely and pleasant. The exception praised Jesus just a few times too many for me during dinner; this combined with him being a rather dominant conversationalist.
I don't expect to play much; maybe tomorrow afternoon. But on Saturday evening I invited the Elkins to join us for a game of Balderdash. This will hopefully be my first play.
The 64 year-old woman who blew herself up in Gaza yesterday has essentially made life more difficult for the last remaining segment of the Palestinian population that was, until now, not subject to extensive security checks. Way to go.
But I noticed in the news article that her 52 year-old daughter tried to justify her actions. 52 year-old daughter. 64 year-old mother. 9 months of pregnancy. You do the math. Update: the source was here, but they have since removed the alleged age of the daughter.
I link here to Wil Wheaton's report from Gen-Con. For those not in the blogging know, Wil played the hated Wesley Crusher in the first few seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation. He loathed many of the lines and directions that he was forced to perform and has been trying to escape from the shadow of that role for the last eighteen years. He is actually a cool guy, a great blogger, and a major geek sympathizer.
The Deseret News out of Utah does a complete job on Eurogames.
Joystiq also goes non-digital with a post for the holiday season on great analog games.
Another killing, this time in New Zeland, over a board game, this time Scrabble.
The Union Tribune in San Diego notes an 11 year-old Chess player, whose mother claims that Chess has helped her son's focus, concentration, logic, math, and memory skills. I note the article only because one of the reporter's gushing praises of the young player is, "He has memorized each of the 64 squares on a chess board." Wow! I ... I ... I'm not sure what that means.
Yehuda
U. S. Armed Forces Code, in Verse: Chapters 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21
Chapter 13
311
Chapters get repealed
Why not this, as well?
It says the mil's made of
All able bodied males
312
There's exemptions for postman
Sailors and pilots
Religious people serve
But don't have to fight lots
Chapter 15
331
If one state rebels
The president calls
Forces from others 'til
The rebel state falls
332
He can suppress
Any type of rebellion
Armed group, pep squad,
Or freshman cotillion
333
If ignoring the laws
Or repressing its citizens
Slackards better look out
For federal militia men
334
If he doesn't like people
Meeting in the street
He can send them all home
To have a good sleep
335
These laws don't apply
To North Vietnam
They do to the Virgins
And also to Guam
Chapter 17
351
If a war's underway
And we need guns on boats
The Prez can put them on
Anything that floats
Chapter 18
371
Information collected by
Military establishment
Can be given when needed
To any local government
372
Also equipment is
Loaned out, when needed
If not readily available
And instructions are heeded
373
They give recipients
Instructions for perusing
With missiles it helps
To know what you're using
374
In continuing benevolence
They even do maintenance
Or operate the equipment
If the owners lack patience
375
Participation is limited
In general circumstance
To civilian activity
Unless ordered to, by chance
376
Another limitation, and
Be sure the mil heeds it
This stuff can't be lent if
The military needs it
377
The stuff that is lent
Isn't given for free
Rental for a cruise missile's
A buck ninety-three
378
After reading this section
I needed a sedative
It has just four lines
And two double negatives
379
Five hundred sailors
Are stationed on boats
For drug interception
On waters remote
380
The Attorney General and
The Defense Secretary
Check civilian usage of
Equipment, military
381
If you need to fight drugs
And you know that you do
The government has a deal
On equipment for you
382
This section was added
In case there was doubt
If attacked by WMDs
The mil might help out
Chapter 20
401
Humanitarian assistance
Is given only when
It promotes our security
Or helps train our men
402
If not our supplies then
We might send them anyway
If we've space on ships and
They won't be thrown away
404
There's special exception
For disaster relief -
Which is good, the last sections
Were beyond my belief
405
Defense money's not given
To support the U.N.
If they're nice, then maybe
We could loan them a pen
Chapter 21
421
Regardless of budget
For cryptography stuff
The money for doodads
Is never enough
422
We host guests and pay
For their burgers and fries
And wanted ads needed
To hire more spies
423
Spying activities
Sometimes make money
To pay for expenses and
Awards, which is funny
424
How spying's conducted,
No matter who says,
Is never revealed
Except to the Prez
425
Merchandise implying
Intel authority
Is illegal, they'll sue you
With utmost priority
426
The merging of ISR
Functions is keen
And should be done by
Two-thousand eighteen
431
They set up businesses
As fronts for their spying
So someone selling used cars
May actually be lying
432
Profits from business for
Operations clandestine
Are audited and deposited
For further investin'
433
Business operation
Follow legal regulations
Except when this would
Compromise operations
434
If the business is prosecuted
And not given impunity
The U.S. reserves rights
And still claims immunity
435
A business of this sort
Won't sell domestically
U.S. employees must know
About it explicitly
436
Regulations are added when
Necessary, so no fear -
There's no more to say
I just need a rhyme here
437
Regulations set out
And business activities
Are given to congress'
Appropriate committees
<- Previous | Next ->
311
Chapters get repealed
Why not this, as well?
It says the mil's made of
All able bodied males
312
There's exemptions for postman
Sailors and pilots
Religious people serve
But don't have to fight lots
Chapter 15
331
If one state rebels
The president calls
Forces from others 'til
The rebel state falls
332
He can suppress
Any type of rebellion
Armed group, pep squad,
Or freshman cotillion
333
If ignoring the laws
Or repressing its citizens
Slackards better look out
For federal militia men
334
If he doesn't like people
Meeting in the street
He can send them all home
To have a good sleep
335
These laws don't apply
To North Vietnam
They do to the Virgins
And also to Guam
Chapter 17
351
If a war's underway
And we need guns on boats
The Prez can put them on
Anything that floats
Chapter 18
371
Information collected by
Military establishment
Can be given when needed
To any local government
372
Also equipment is
Loaned out, when needed
If not readily available
And instructions are heeded
373
They give recipients
Instructions for perusing
With missiles it helps
To know what you're using
374
In continuing benevolence
They even do maintenance
Or operate the equipment
If the owners lack patience
375
Participation is limited
In general circumstance
To civilian activity
Unless ordered to, by chance
376
Another limitation, and
Be sure the mil heeds it
This stuff can't be lent if
The military needs it
377
The stuff that is lent
Isn't given for free
Rental for a cruise missile's
A buck ninety-three
378
After reading this section
I needed a sedative
It has just four lines
And two double negatives
379
Five hundred sailors
Are stationed on boats
For drug interception
On waters remote
380
The Attorney General and
The Defense Secretary
Check civilian usage of
Equipment, military
381
If you need to fight drugs
And you know that you do
The government has a deal
On equipment for you
382
This section was added
In case there was doubt
If attacked by WMDs
The mil might help out
Chapter 20
401
Humanitarian assistance
Is given only when
It promotes our security
Or helps train our men
402
If not our supplies then
We might send them anyway
If we've space on ships and
They won't be thrown away
404
There's special exception
For disaster relief -
Which is good, the last sections
Were beyond my belief
405
Defense money's not given
To support the U.N.
If they're nice, then maybe
We could loan them a pen
Chapter 21
421
Regardless of budget
For cryptography stuff
The money for doodads
Is never enough
422
We host guests and pay
For their burgers and fries
And wanted ads needed
To hire more spies
423
Spying activities
Sometimes make money
To pay for expenses and
Awards, which is funny
424
How spying's conducted,
No matter who says,
Is never revealed
Except to the Prez
425
Merchandise implying
Intel authority
Is illegal, they'll sue you
With utmost priority
426
The merging of ISR
Functions is keen
And should be done by
Two-thousand eighteen
431
They set up businesses
As fronts for their spying
So someone selling used cars
May actually be lying
432
Profits from business for
Operations clandestine
Are audited and deposited
For further investin'
433
Business operation
Follow legal regulations
Except when this would
Compromise operations
434
If the business is prosecuted
And not given impunity
The U.S. reserves rights
And still claims immunity
435
A business of this sort
Won't sell domestically
U.S. employees must know
About it explicitly
436
Regulations are added when
Necessary, so no fear -
There's no more to say
I just need a rhyme here
437
Regulations set out
And business activities
Are given to congress'
Appropriate committees
<- Previous | Next ->
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