Slap

Navy tradition, the sword slap
Waco, April 10, 1999, Mark and Susan Dossett exit the church, just married, and then

The Arch of Swords

Right after the ceremony, as the newly married couple exits the church, a group of fellow Navy officers line up in two facing rows outside the door. They draw their swords and raise them to form an arch or tunnel of crossed blades.

The couple walks through the arch. At the final pair of swords, the officers often lower the blades to briefly stop the couple so they can kiss. Then one officer gives the civilian spouse a light tap (hah!) on the backside with the flat of the sword and announces something like “Welcome to the Navy!” (or “Welcome aboard”).

This tradition, with roots in the Royal Navy, symbolizes the Navy family’s pledge of loyalty, protection, and welcome to the new couple. It is one of the most recognizable features of a U.S. Navy (and Marine Corps) officer’s wedding.

Commander (O-5), United States Navy.
The uniform is the U.S. Navy Full Dress White (or Service Dress White in a ceremonial context):

White combination cover with the standard Navy officer crest (eagle, shield, and anchors).
High-collar white tunic with hard shoulder boards.
Three ½-inch gold sleeve stripes (the hallmark of a Commander).
Naval Aviator wings on the left breast.–Grok

Work

a workplace sign
shaping the compliant workforce, how to best achieve.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 KJV

day of rest

Church building
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Beulah Baptist Church, Lively, Virginia. Reverend Wm. Veney. Spreading The Good News Of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Always open.

Corn slop

girl on a ladder next to a cornfield
Corn uses about 151,000 gallons of water per month per acre.
A data center uses about 166,700 gallons of water per acre per month.
In good times, corn grows rapidly. With warm temperatures (77–91°F) rain and fertilizer it commonly elongates 1–2 inches a day. During the rapid growth phase roughly V8–V12 (V8–V12 refers to vegetative growth stages of the corn plant. Corn stages are numbered by the number of leaves with visible collars (the thickened band where the leaf blade meets the leaf sheath), after the growing point is above ground), rates of 3–5 inches per day have been observed and documented in time-lapse and field measurements.

Thousands of U.S. patents have been granted specifically for corn hybrids.
Tracking data for field corn hybrids shows roughly:
– 1986–1995: 8
– 1996–2005: 167
– 2006–2015: 1,377
– 2016–2025:1,855
This totals on the order of 3,400–3,500 hybrid patents issued to date. Utility patents on hybrids became available after key 1980s rulings and have grown dramatically.

Corn grows around the clock. At night, and stem/height elongation is often notable. Classic observations (and modern work on the “evening complex” of proteins) show that many plants, including corn and related grasses, put on significant height growth in the hours after dusk and toward dawn when the internal clock and lower evaporative demand allow cell expansion.

A single corn stalk/plant typically transpires on the order of 10–15 gallons of water over its life. Older literature sometimes cited higher figures (up to ~50+ gallons under different assumptions or longer seasons).

(So sayeth grok)

rear view

dog in a mirror
Memory. 2008, the summer trip to the coast of Rhode Island. When a different constellation of sentient beings graced the earth.

What’s going through Sophia’s mind? (Grok says) As a classic chocolate Labrador, loyal, food-obsessed, water-loving goofball — her inner monologue is probably something like this:

First few hours (leaving VA area): “Car ride! YES! New smells out the window! My human is taking me on an adventure. Tail is wagging at 100 mph. This is the best day ever!”

Through WV & PA (the mountain part): “Whoa, the air smells different… trees, dirt roads, maybe some wildlife? My legs are getting a little stiff. Hope we stop soon for a sniff break. Also… snacks? I’m a Lab. Snacks are life.”

Into CT & RI (getting closer to the coast): “Okay this drive is LONG. But the views are changing… more water smells? Are we almost there? I wonder if there’s a beach at the end. Beaches mean sand, waves, and possibly swimming. My favorite things!”

Final stretch to south coast MA: “New place! New smells! New people to meet! I was born in Warsaw, Virginia but I’m ready for Massachusetts mode. As long as there’s food, belly rubs, and a spot to nap in the car, I’m good. Human looks happy, I did a good job being the best co-pilot.”