Monday, December 28, 2015

Marine uniform changes, Swedes v. Christmas goats and Miranda Lambert v. animal rights kooks


- The Marine Corps is not typically known as a fashion-first outfit. But for the bravest and finest who defend the United States against so much danger on a daily basis, it’s worth giving those men and women a say in the gear they don when they’re at work. With that very thought in mind, significant changes for Marine Corps uniforms are in the works. The final decision hasn’t been made, but switching to “bravos” or “charlies” as the uniform of the day and doing away with desert camouflage utility uniforms are two proposals currently on the table. The changes come in the wake of  a survey of Marines conducted over the summer by the Marine Corps Uniform Board and Marines’ input will be taken into account, according to board manager Mary Boyt. “The survey results will be briefed at the formal Uniform Board meeting during the deliberation phase of the process and will be briefed to the commandant and his staff in conjunction with the formal Uniform Board recommendation on the issues,” Boyt said. In addition to uniform changes, the board has also authorized the wear of lock and twist hairstyles for women and mandated that under sleeve-rolling regulations for desert MARPAT cammies, the rolls must be “snug to the arm.” The uniform survey asked Marines to vote on three potential uniform changes: adopting a new seasonal uniform policy, removing desert cammies from the required gear list and adopting a new dress blue coat for women. Within the seasonal policy, there are three recommendations being considered. One is giving force-level commanders authority to make the call on which uniform of the day their Marines should wear based on the climate in their area of operation, while the second would delegate the decision of which uniform to wear to local commanders based on climate and training requirements and the third would scrap combat utility uniforms as the uniform of the day in favor of the service uniform. In that case, “Bravos” or “charlies” would become the universal daily uniform, versus the weekly “service uniform Fridays” Marines currently enjoy……….


- Vermont Catamounts guard Dre Wills has both a lot of free time on his hands for the near future and the least badass story of athlete misconduct ever for a college athlete. Wills has been suspended for eight games, but not for smashing a bar stool over someone’s head in a fight at an off-campus watering hole or because he was pulled over by campus police with a giant bag of weed in his car, but rather for reselling textbooks. The university's athletic department banned the junior guard for violating its student-athlete code and NCAA rules regarding his athletic scholarship by selling the books. For those who don’t know, scholarship athletes get their books for free and must return them at the end of each quarter or semester, but Wills decided to make a little extra cash by selling his books from the fall semester. Wrong? Technically yes, but in the scope of all the unsavory business that goes on in college sports, probably the least offensive wrong that was committed in the past month. Wills, who is averaging 6.8 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Catamounts, has already served three games of his ban but won't be eligible to play until Jan. 18, when Vermont hosts UMass Lowell. Beyond sitting out several weeks of action, Wills must also pay back an unspecified amount of money and perform community service. To his credit, he has already apologized and said he realizes his actions were wrong, but for future reference, he may want to spice this story up for re-tellings of the tale if he wants to use it to up his street cred………


- Ah, those wacky Swedes. They have various weird traditions and even weirder food preferences - pickled herring, anyone? - but perhaps none wackier and more pyromaniacal than the one that went down over the weekend. In what has become a true hallmark of the holiday season, a giant decorative goat made of straw was set ablaze in the city of Gavle, in central Sweden. The straw goat is a beloved Christmas symbol in the city, but it’s also become a yearly staple to have someone take a torch to it and burn that mo-fo down. Maybe the powers that be should have simply appreciated the fact that this year's edition lasted nearly a month on a downtown square before going up in flames, but instead they’re pressing the case against the accused perpetrator. Police arrested a man suspected of arson, saying they detained a suspect wearing a balaclava and clothes reeking of lighter fluid. Oh yeah? What other evidence do you have against this dude, who just happened to be wearing a piece of clothing often worn to disguise one’s appearance and with the scent of lighter fluid on his person in what may have merely been his own unique, distinctly Swedish take on the idea of cologne? Other than his face being covered in soot and his hair - allegedly - damaged by fire at the time he was apprehended, of course. That’s all circumstantial evidence and maybe we all need to avoid rushing conclusions and wait until after this lush sobers up and can be questioned by police about (allegedly) burning down a straw version of an ancient Scandinavian Yuletide tradition that preceded Santa Claus as the bringer of gifts……….


- The only amazing thing about country music singer Miranda Lambert posting a photo of her wearing a floor-length fur coat she received as a gift from her grandmother is that she didn’t anticipate the blowback she’d receive from her animal rights-obsessed fans and critics. The singer showed off the present from her grandmother, whom she refers to as Nonny, with an Instagram photo that was equal parts rich a-hole and appreciative granddaughter and the reaction was swift, snarky and outspoken. "'I'm so fancy... You already know' my Nonny gave me two of her fur coats! I definitely know where I got my love for DIAMONDS, FUR and WHISKEY! #familytradition #grandmastreasures #besthandmedownever #wandathewanderer #bringitwinter,” Lambert wrote. Some fans enjoyed the post and expressed approval of the gift, but not everyone was down. Haters called the image “absolutely disgusting” and “cruel,” even though Lambert has been open about her love for animals. Hell, her Christmas card this year even featured all five of her dogs and that wasn’t enough to quell the hate. Critics called the self-described animal lover hypocritical, suggesting that all animals are the same and that there isn't a difference between a domesticated animal and a wild one killed and used to make a stylish fur coat. Lambert later posted a photo of she and her grandmother smiling in front of a Christmas tree to flesh out the story a bit. "Her name embroidered inside is priceless," Lambert's caption read. "A family heirloom I will cherish forever. I'm so thankful for her and all the things I have learned from her. Nonny is strong, beautiful, feisty and most of all, loving." But according to animal rights kooks, Nonny is also an evil soul with a blatant disregard for God’s creatures……….

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