Every Once In A While
GorT generally despises “reality TV” – it’s akin to texting in that it is a cheap way for networks to earn money by airing low budget content (and therefore low-value content) and rake in the advertising money (texting for those unaware uses the extra bandwidth on the wireless phone carriers control networks which already are paid for by the subscriber’s line fees). However, every once in a while, GorT tunes into one of these shows. In the past it included Top Shot on Bravo and the latest one to pique my interest is Inside Combat Rescue on the National Geographic Channel. Honestly, I’m late to the party on it and plan on going back and watching the past episodes. It’s a show that follow the lives of several US Air Force pararescuemen (PJs) deployed in Afghanistan. The show does an excellent job of steering clear of the politics and really focuses on what the daily life of these brave soldiers are like. They work 12-hour shifts where they remain at the ready for immediate deployment in two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. They will engage with the enemy and tackle the toughest of situations in order to save lives. They have to emotionally deal with rescuing children who have been caught in the mess that is Afghanistan – and sometimes the mandated no rescue decision when it violates MEDROE (Medical Rules of Engagement). It isn’t for the weak hearted (both emotionally and visually) but it is compelling television. I can’t express how impressed I am with what these brave souls do and the story that this shows tells of their efforts.
The other “reality show” that has surfaced on my radar is “Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?” (also on National Geographic Channel). I’ve only watched one episode so far but it was amusing, nostalgic, and intriguing. It pits a team of six “elite” Boy Scouts (roughly aged 15-17) against various adults in challenges. The one I saw involved pioneering (lashing poles together in two different configurations to accomplish two different river crossings) and musket shooting. I think they went a bit easy by opting out of orienteering (navigating with a compass & map) for a GPS handheld device for navigation. So far, the scouts seem solid and confident without being too boastful (although “Yeti” is bordering on it). GorT is an Eagle Scout so it is dear to his heart – I enjoyed the pioneering, orienteering, shooting (archery & rifles), and other aspects of scouting. I have learned that the Troop you (or your son) joins really drives the experience. While my own son’s experience with Cub Scouts hasn’t been as enjoyable, I still try to teach him some of the things I remember learning. I’m going to have to put pioneering on the docket for this summer. Their web site has some interesting content as well – including the 5 most popular earned merit badges (an eagle Scout requires 21) and the 5 toughest merit badges to earn (Physical Fitness, Scuba Diving, Environmental Science, Lifesaving, and Personal Management – GorT earned 3 of the 5 missing the first two in the course of earning 45 give or take). It was interesting to see and hear some of the footage of the adults and their beliefs or preconceptions of scouts.
GorT is an eight-foot-tall robot from the 51ˢᵗ Century who routinely time-travels to steal expensive technology from the future and return it to the past for retroinvention. The profits from this pay all the Gormogons’ bills, including subsidizing this website. Some of the products he has introduced from the future include oven mitts, the Guinness widget, Oxy-Clean, and Dr. Pepper. Due to his immense cybernetic brain, GorT is able to produce a post in 0.023 seconds and research it in even less time. Only ’Puter spends less time on research. GorT speaks entirely in zeros and ones, but occasionally throws in a ڭ to annoy the Volgi. He is a massive proponent of science, technology, and energy development, and enjoys nothing more than taking the Czar’s more interesting scientific theories, going into the past, publishing them as his own, and then returning to take credit for them. He is the only Gormogon who is capable of doing math. Possessed of incredible strength, he understands the awesome responsibility that follows and only uses it to hurt people.