I don't have a hardware problem. My problem is completely encompassed by the software running the hardware.

Perhaps a brief primer as to my background is in order. I'm a Soldier, and currently I'm sitting on a medium sized FOB in Afghanistan. This is my fourth deployment since 2006. I don't have a combat arms job, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn last night.

So today's topic is all about how people here try and fix a software problem with hardware. When the Army...

I was told once that a smart person learns from their mistakes. I've also been told that a wise person can learn from someone else's mistakes. Keeping those two in the front of my brain, I'm going to add another little nugget of smarts/wisdom in the form of a motivational quote, source unknown (only because I can't remember where I saw/read/heard/felt it).

Being the better than others doesn't mean that you are the best.

Being in the military, I see quite a few characters...

...buy a car that breaks down every thirteen friggin seconds:

I am the owner of a 1995 Land Rover. Wonderfully capable, it can get me from point A to point B in a straight line. No matter what is in my way, it can get there.

As long as 'there' is either a the back of a tow truck or the mechanic's shop. I have loved my old piece of crap Esuvee for just over three years. I've been justifying it's continued limp-wristed existence by one simple factor: financial....

It turns out that I am a part of a very small percentage of Americans: I am a veteran of a war.

I won't attempt to claim that I'm some sort of war hero. I know people who are, and I've been right next to extraordinary people when they have outperformed the rest of us. Sometimes that's just the way these things happen.

With all that being said, I have no real redeeming/outstanding qualities. I simply do my job the best that I know how and try to improve every day,...