Mike's Morsels of Wisdom

CyberMike 2025

I realized the other day that if I continue in my attempt to keep up with technology, I will become a cyborg by the year 2025. Or at least a half-cyborg. What would you call that? Cyber-human? Cy-man? Frank the "Machine Guy?"

Actually, Nate helped me realize this. I had recently purchased a wireless/bluetooth enabled headset for my cell phone. I love it. I was wearing it and Nate made the comment that all I need now is a chip in my head. I laughed. Then, I pondered. It's really not all that far off...

Here's a rundown of what I already have accomplished in this regard:
I spend countless hours on my small, wi-fi and bluetooth enabled laptop computer. This serves as the hub to my technocentric lifestyle. With this I can rent my Netflix movies, track my bank accounts and find out the density of a radial tire all from the comfort of my local coffee shop. With my bluetooth enabled cellular phone I can talk to anyone at any time in almost any part of the world. I even wear the phone on my hip. Speaking of hips, my iPod gives me instant and portable access to thousands of songs. In essence, I can have a soundtrack of life playing wherever I go.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't think this is all bad...in fact, I am far from some folks I see hovering around the city in their cyberstate. But what I am saying is that if I don't slow down... if we all don't slow down... this is what could be upon us by the year 2025. Let's hope it never comes to this.

Ten Hut!: UPDATE

Hey folks. I know, I know...it's been a while, I'm sorry. My blogging arm got caught in life's duct tape of laziness and college football (Go Hawks!). The important thing is that I'm back and eager to keep the blog rolling. What better subject matter to usher this in than a little update on my trip down to Ft. Benning to see my bro, Josh, graduate from his Advanced Infantry Training.

As I mentioned in my Dec. 9th posting, I was super proud of my brother even before I got down to Georgia. This pride became immediately justified upon arriving there and seeing Josh in all of his infantry-soldierness. I mean, look at him there...what a stud! (Of course, he is standing next to me...) It was especially nice to have the whole Hadley fam there. That's our sister, Tricia, with us. My father, John, was with us as well but was harassing a drill sergeant when this was taken. He is still healing.

All in all, we had a great time. Very inspiring. But instead of me trying to live and write vicariously through Josh's experiences, I'll let you hear it from the soldier's mouth. Read on for a short interview between myself and PFC Hadley. (More pictures too!)

Mike: What was the toughest thing you had to do in your training?
PFC Hadley: Physically, the toughest thing was road marching back from 7 days out in the field with a 50 lb ruck sack and poison ivy all over my body. Over all, basic training is just a big mental game. Learning to adapt to a completely negative environment 24-7 was probably my biggest challenge.
Mike: Did anything funny happen to you?
PFC Hadley: I’m trying to think of a "safe" story to tell.
Mike: Okay...take your time.
PFC Hadley: Okay. Throughout training, I was known for doing impressions of the drill sergeants. Eventually word got around about this to my First Sergeant and about 2 weeks prior to graduation, he made me imitate every drill sergeant in front of the entire company.
Mike: What was the biggest lesson you learned from your experience at Ft. Benning?
PFC Hadley: Well it's not so much what I learned, it's more of what I got out of it. Basic training gives you a lot more mental toughness and confidence. It's been cool to see how simple life is compared to what I've experienced in the last 16 weeks. You are put into situations in which you are solely dependent on someone or something beside yourself. You are forced to rely on either your faith or your buddies to get you through a lot of situations.
Mike: Well said Private, well said.
PFC Hadley: Thanks dude.

There you have it. An inside look on the training that goes into the men and women that defend our great country. To Josh and all the other Americans that have worked so hard to train and ultimately sacrifice their lives for us, I salute you.