America’s truckers are learning a new language, while forgetting one that dominated the superslabs for decades.
Back in the Internet’s Age of Innocence – aka dial-up – we launched one of the early websites for the trucking industry, as an online presence for a truck-driver oriented magazine we published then. The conventional wisdom at the time was that truckers would never adopt the Internet – availability was the practical reason, and perceived “inability” to comprehend such a technology was the other, if whispered and elitist, reason most often given.
We reasoned that truckers already comfortably inhabited a virtual world – they were always on the move, doing business via phone and fax, and relying heavily on the citizens band (CB) radio to obtain all sorts of info and communicate with each other. Much of the communication occurred as “10-code” – numbers adapted from military and law enforcement use to convey larger concepts with extreme brevity.
The skeptics were dead-wrong: Truckers and trucking companies adopted the ‘Net early and strongly, forcing truckstops to add phone lines and data ports for drivers who stuffed laptops into their duffel bags. It was, and is, a great way to help drivers do business.
In the 15 or so years since then, truckers have continued to adopt technology that helps them communicate (cell phones were once also regarded as beyond truckers’ means and desires; once cells became commodities, they took to the highways by the thousands).
Texting is now widespread, and Twitter is the newest wrinkle – because I keep up with the trucking industry, I’m seeing it become more and more popular. (Which worries me, because I know some drivers are texting and tweeting while turning miles. Like a lot of 4-wheelers.)
That aside, though, I’m also seeing the demise of the old 10-codes as a new generation of drivers come aboard. It’s like watching the children of immigrants shed their parents’ native tongues in favor of the new culture’s lingo – and in some cases, that is literally what is happening. I recently wrote an opinion piece for a trucking magazine about this phenomenon; you can see it here.
(For an explanation of the 10-codes I use, check here.)
With the media hysteria over swine flu – excuse me, 2009 H1N1 influenza – I thought I’d take a shot at clearing up some confusing terms related to health and illness. They may not make you feel any safer, but take heart – it appears that the hysteria over the disease may be more to be feared than the actual germ. At least it’s not “Captain Trips”:
Epidemic/pandemic
An epidemic is a sudden outbreak of illness affecting more than the usual number of people or a wider range or people than usual. A pandemic is a multi-country or worldwide epidemic.
Nauseous/nauseated
We’ve already heard flu this and flu that, ad nauseam, but does that make us nauseous or nauseated? “Nauseated” is that unpleasant feeling in your tum-tum; “nauseous” is something that provokes that ill-feeling. As one source put it, if you say you’re nauseous, you’re describing how people react to you.
Infectious/Contagious
Contagious diseases spread via bodily contact with an ill person. Infectious diseases are spread by germs through air or water or some other medium. All contagious diseases are infectious, in the sense they are caused by some foreign substance entering the body, but not all infectious diseases are contagious. In any case, wash your hands!
Virus/bacteria
A virus is a chunk of protein that contains genetic material. A virus is not considered to be a living thing. It cannot reproduce on its own; it must infect a living cell to grow. Flus and colds are caused by viruses.
Bacteria, however, are one-celled living organisms. They can multiply and reproduce themselves. They cause diseases like strep, tuberculosis and scarlet fever. Antibiotics kill bacteria, but do nothing to viruses. So taking an antibiotic to fight cold symptoms or the flu is a waste of money and effort.
Inoculate vs. vaccinate
These originally were two different processes to achieve the same goal – immunity against a disease. Inoculate at first meant introducing some kind of substance into the body to provoke an immune system reaction that would provide lasting immunity. Vaccinate meant to introduce a vaccine – a liquified preparation. Their meanings have since merged.
Prone/Supine
If you catch something, either contagious or infectious, and don’t have immunity, you may wind up in bed. But prone or supine? That’s mostly your choice: Prone means face down, supine means face up. Me, I just curl up in a ball and will the world to go away.
General James T. Conway, 34th Commandant of the US Marine Corps, leads the May/June issue of Semper Fi, which we publish for the Marine Corps League. In an exclusive interview in late March with Semper Fi contributor Otto Kreisher, General Conway presented a frank assessment of the state of the Corps as it winds down its presence in Iraq and moves in greater numbers into Afghanistan as part of the Long War on Terror.
Recently a wine-buff friend of mine poured a glass of pricey Bordeaux for me. “How about that aroma?” he asked. I had to confess to him that my sense of smell has deteriorated a lot. “I usually smell good, but I don’t smell well,” I quipped.
Few pairs of words get more groans from us grammar hair-dividers than “well” and “good.” Above, “good” describes me, while “well” describes my olfactory prowess. Each word can be either a noun or an interjection without any confusion; “well” can also be either an adjective or an adverb, while “good” can serve as an adjective.
And this is where the debate starts.
In his controversial novel “Starship Troopers,” sci-fi legend Robert Heinlein wrote of a future military corps called the Mobile Infantry. Highly selective and totally volunteer like today’s US Marine Corps, the MI were usually the point of the spear, and were equipped with spacesuit like outfits that augmented their natural muscular abilities. The so-called powered suits – far more advanced than, say, Robocop’s – allowed them to run faster and farther, lift heavy objects, carry immense loads including all sorts of weapons and ordnance, and to survive attacks by many types of weapons.
The future is knocking at our door.
At the 2009 Marine South Expo at Camp Lejeune, NC, Lockheed Martin and Berkeley Bionics gave the Marine Corps its first look at what might be called the Mark 1 MI suit. Dubbed the HULC – Human Universal Load Carrier – the powered “exoskeleton” was shown off to the Army a few weeks earlier. L-M is tasked to deliver a working version within 18-24 months.
The titanium framework allows the warrior to easily carry an extremely heavy load of gear – the demo at Marine South had 145 pounds of gear not counting the device itself – with the goal of enabling a Marine or Soldier to maintain a 3 mph pace long enough to cover 26 miles before the lithium ion battery pack would require charging. The system could include arm assistance that would enable them to lift heavy object easily and without risk of back injury.
Sensors pick up the Marine’s movements so the suit “anticipates” what he or she is about to do – walk, run, jump, squat, etc. The exoskeleton can be programmed to the Marine’s weight and height, allowing it to be customized to each wearer.
There’s a video showing what HULC can do… today. The challenges now are to continue to refine the system to operate even more smoothly, to improve battery life, and to make the units even lighter and more powerful.
As you might imagine, the futuristic exoskeleton drew a lot of attention from 2nd Division Marines, many of whom are just returned from or about to deploy to the Middle East and Southwest Asia. Dismounted Marines – a fancy way of saying Leathernecks on foot – often carry loads of 100 pounds, including uniform, weapons, armor, water and electronics. It’s a tough thing to do, even for these phenomenally fit young men and women. So something like this powered suit could help immensely.
Marine South is sponsored by our client, the Marine Corps League. This was the 17th show held at Camp Lejeune (pronounced, Luh-jern, per the family), bringing Marines and military suppliers together to discuss current products and services to make them better for Marines in the field. More than 3,600 visitors checked out items and services from 200 vendors.
If a blank page terrifies and baffles most writers, imagine how an editor must feel when one issue of a magazine goes to bed and the next one awakes and demands that its 64, 72, 80 or more blank pages be fed – and soon. Small wonder that a lot of editors find cleaning up their offices after completing an issue much more important than welcoming that new number with open arms.
Of course, it’s not quite that bad (that is to say, it better not be). Editors assign stories several issues ahead; depending on the publication and story, it might be as much as a year ahead.
We at Hammock take a conservative approach to most assignments, preferring to work only a couple issues ahead so we can adapt to changing client needs and wants. So we’re constantly working the idea file – which may consist of a thicket of sticky notes as well as multiple file, bookmark and email folders.
Here in late April, I’m just finishing up some mid-course changes for the 2009 editorial calendar of Semper Fi, the Magazine of the Marine Corps League, and working on a draft of 2010’s calendar.
We at Hammock take a conservative approach to most assignments, preferring to work only a couple issues ahead so we can adapt to changing client needs and wants. So we’re constantly working the idea file – which may consist of a thicket of sticky notes as well as multiple file, bookmark and email folders.
Here in late April, I’m just finishing up some mid-course changes for the 2009 editorial calendar of Semper Fi, the Magazine of the Marine Corps League, and working on a draft of 2010’s calendar.
Next year has several important milestones for the Marine Corps, including the 65th anniversary of the Corps’ landmark battle on Iwo Jima, as well as the end of World War II. It’s the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, and also of the legendary battle of the Chosin Reservoir, with Marines and Soldiers desperately holding back a much larger North Korean force. It is also the 35th anniversary of the fall of Saigon; two US Marines were the last American Warriors killed in direct action there.
Decisions on these stories will be made well in advance, with the knowledge that opportunities may arise that we’ll have to jump to take advantage of.
Nevertheless, with all this looming in the near future, and the covers still settling around the chin of our May-June issue, the July-August issue is demanding full attention for now. So we start the process of checking with writers about their progress, sifting through what will add up to hundreds of photos, and reading constantly about the Corps and America’s military and history.
The July-August issue will get an “esprit de Corps” boost from my visiting the 2009 Marine South Expo at Camp Lejeune next week. It’s inspiring, and sobering, to get out behind the computer screen and talk to Marines who have been in harm’s way, and are likely going back fairly soon. It’s also uplifting to meet “Mature Marines,” who have served their hitch, or their career, and are on hand with the Marine Corps League to greet today’s Warriors.
Because Marines study deeply the Corps’ history, a few words can convey volumes – Peleliu, Tarawa, Chosin, Tet, Khe Sanh, Desert Storm, Fallujah. There’s a bond, a sense of continuum that permeates these events, and that we strive to convey every time we fill those blank pages.
Contrary to popular opinion, Editor Bill Hudgins does not spend all day looking for weird news on the Web. It finds him. His days are also filled with donkeys, time on Facebook and a comfy chair with a warm cat.
What is the first thing you do when you get in the office each morning?
My day starts early—around 5 most days (That’s me with an early bird, a Harris Hawk, at left).
Breakfast first, always, accompanied by TV news and checking email, Dilbert, Calvin & Hobbes, Facebook, and the news online. Handle any overnight business, send emails to clients or designers or writers as needed. Feed our foster-care horses and donkeys, play with cats and welcome the day—definitely a morning person whose ideas come early. I spend about 40 minutes commuting and use the cell phone only when I must.
First thing at the office: Switch on computer, get coffee and catch up on what’s happened since breakfast. If I haven’t already, figure out a plan for the day—if other things don’t interrupt. Plans are useless, but planning is essential.
What’s your favorite non-electric tool you use for work?
Sticky notes. I use stickies at home and office to capture fleeting ideas and to-dos, to remind me of obligations and appointments. They have almost replaced my “back-of-hand Pilot.”
Which meal fuels you better for the day, breakfast or lunch?
Breakfast, definitely. Morning guy all the way. Coffee and either oatmeal with fruit and nuts, or toast, cottage cheese and fruit. When I travel and have to be going all day, I go the bacon and eggs and grits and biscuits route. Lunch makes me sleepy.
Do you doodle while on the phone or in meetings? What do you doodle?
Some times at meetings. Rarely when I am on the phone. Usually I am multi-tasking and the keyboard is tempting.
How do you divide your time each day between projects? Do you set aside specific hours to work on certain things, or do you just play it by ear and see what needs the most attention?
I’ve never been able to consistently block out time for only one task. Sometimes when I am desperate, I turn off the phone and set email to check every 30 minutes to an hour. If I have to read a book for research or a review, I usually have to do that at home; there are too many incoming distractions at the office, and the chairs at home are more comfortable for that. I am thinking of bringing a reading chair to the office, but it will seem bare without a cat in it.
Two of our magazine projects—the DAR’s American Spirit and the Marine Corps League’s Semper Fi–regularly include book review sections. Although publishers happily send cover images, we’ve found that photographing the books adds–as you might expect–a custom look to the page.
While several of us have done this job, lately we’ve called on designer Ben Stewart to handle the tasks. There are a couple of reasons for this: Ben originally minored in photography at Middle Tennessee State University before switching to graphic design, and his Canon Rebel EOS is ideal for capturing the quality images we need.
Not long ago, my office phone rang. As I reached to answer it, I looked at the caller-ID screen to see if it named the caller. It read, “Hugh OBrian.” As I picked up the receiver and said hello, my brain went into overdrive trying to process that tantalizingly familiar name. It was still churning when a rich baritone on the other end said, “This is Hugh O’Brian. You may remember me …”
It was the voice that did it, that supplied the missing link and snapped me back across nearly 50 years to my folks’ black-and-white console TV, and evenings spent enjoying the still-novel form of home entertainment.
Westerns were very popular, and like most every 9-year-old boy, I was fascinated with the tales of very good people vs. very bad ones. One of the most popular shows was “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp,” and Hugh O’Brian had been the Dodge City marshall himself.
Resplendent in a satin vest, black hat and immaculate white shirt and tie, his Earp embodied the essence of a tough, yet compassionate lawman trying to clean up a lawless land. He even packed a special 6-shooter, a long-barreled beauty called The Buntline Special, which in those early days of merchandising a popular show was available in various toy forms, including a plastic model kit that I labored over.
The series ran 7 years, from 1955-61; years later, when Kevin Costner and then Val Kilmer played Earp, I was indignant at their tarnished hero portrayals.
So why was Marshall Earp – sorry, Hugh O’Brian – calling me?
Turns out he was a Marine, and something of a legend in the Corps. As his bio puts it “O’ Brian enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17. He became the youngest drill instructor in the Corps’ history, and during his four year service won a coveted Fleet appointment to The Naval Academy. After passing the entrance exams, he declined the appointment, intending to enroll at Yale to study law.” Instead of law, he wound up in acting, and enjoyed a long and productive career.
Imbued with the Marine’s ethos of service and helping others, in 1958 he founded the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) foundation, a non-profit organization that helps “inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.” Semper Fi, the magazine we produce for the Marine Corps League, had never had an article about HOBY and he thought we might be interested.
After I finished babbling – reverting to the 9-year-old dispatching bad guys with his black plastic Buntline Special, like Ralphie with his Red Ryder Rifle in Christmas Story – I assured him we would be. And will do so very soon – what, you think I’d mislead Marshal Earp?
It might shock you to learn that Marines are competitive, especially among themselves, and every unit from platoon to division boasts that it’s the best. So Marines who train at the home of the 1st Division aboard Camp Pendleton, CA, must endure the brickbats of being called “Hollywood Marines,” since the northern reaches of the 125,000-acre camp lie near Los Angeles.
With beaches that developers drool over and vast stretches of nearly untouched coastal terrain, Camp Pendleton basks in the Southern California sunshine much of the year. During the 2009 Marine West Expo held 4-5 February, the region was abloom with flowers, from roses to the exotic bird-of-paradise. Daytime temps hovered in the 70s, while USA Today reported that 90 percent of the rest of the nation was below freezing.
But 1st MarDiv Marines don’t get a lot of time to enjoy the weather, though their counterparts aboard Camp Lejeune, NC, along the humid Atlantic coast would likely swap places in a minute. With deployments behind and ahead, these Marines spend days and nights training to keep skills honed. The rotor beats from the 3rd Marine Air Wing’s choppers echo almost continuously from the hills, and the crump-bang of weaponry and ordnance carries from remote firing ranges.
All of which made an appropriate setting for the Expo, co-sponsored by our client the Marine Corps League and the Marine Corps Systems Command, which coordinates development and deployment of most everything a Marine takes into harm’s way.
The Marine West Expo, now in its 14th year, brings active-duty Marines together with the people who make their gear, vehicles, aircraft, software, uniforms, boots and other items. Marines are encouraged to speak frankly to the suppliers – not that they are shy! – and vendors are even more pointedly encouraged to listen to what may sometimes be a highly critical appraisal of some item. The goal – make it better, faster, stronger, more comfortable, lighter, safer, deadlier – whatever it takes to keep Marines alive and victorious in the field.
For the second year in a row, the visiting Marine Corps Leaguers visited the headquarters of the Wounded Warrior Bn.-West, where about 55 Marines – many suffering from Post Traumatic Shock Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury – work hard to try to return to active duty at some post in the Corps, or, failing that, to a meaningful job outside.
UPDATE: The groundbreaking was held 27 February.
Companies that offer services or devices to help defeat roadside bombs have been a major presence at the Expo for several years. One company, The O’Gara Group, had a kitchen table set up at its booth, filled from edge-to-edge with beakers, glass bottles and various compounds and liquids.
Several young Marines stopped to examine them. “What are they cooking here?” one asked with a smile. “Bombs” was the answer, and the young Marines instantly turned somber, remembering – and perhaps anticipating – their journeys into harm’s way. This was no longer Hollywood.
(Click here for more photos from the Expo)
