The front runner for the Best Picture prize is currently “The Hurt Locker.” I know, I’m surprised too.
The most important thing to know about “The Hurt Locker” is that it’s directed by Kathryn Bigelow, who used to be married to Avatar director James Cameron. She’s only the fourth woman to be nominiated for a Best Director award, and if she wins, it will be a first for ladies.
The second most important thing to know is that Jeremy Renner played the role of Penn in a guest spot on Angel. He was also Det. Walsh on The Unusuals, but, I think only 10 people watched that show, including myself, so, it means nothing to you, and I’ll stop.
Today’s Word:
somnambulist
As in:
The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.
–Chris Hedges
Adrenaline junkie, and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team leader, Sargent William James was starting to realize he might have a problem, and it amused him.
If it was possible to be addicted to war, did that mean that the Army was his dealer? Did that make the U.S. government his supplier? If so, weren’t they responsible for his addiction? Could he sue?
He smiled at the thought.
It entertained him to think about what it would look like to take the U.S. Army to court over this illicit trade. Could war be considered a “controlled substance?” Only countries could declare war, after all, and most of the equipment and arms he used were not traded on the open, legal markets. Maybe he could get Johnie Cochran to take the case.
He could hear the radio announcer on TV say “The war on terror took a surprising new direction today as it became part of the war on drugs as a soldier sues the army for peddling illegal substances.”
He wondered if he could make an argument that the US was guilty of peddling drugs to minors, given the number of soldiers under the age of 21 that have been employed in the military for centuries. War was at least as dangerous as alcohol, and the Federal Government insisted that people be 21 to use that substance.
Maybe a lawsuit would keep him interested in his time away from Delta Company. When he was stateside, he felt like such a somnambulist, just going from routine task to routine task, like swimming in molasses.
It was fun to think about, even if he thought it was a ridiculous notion. Good thing there didn’t seem to be any chance that the supply of IEDs was going to diminish anytime soon.
And, with that, he grabbed his gear and headed out for the night’s adventures.
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The opening quotation appears on a title card as “The Hurt Locker” begins. And, the movie reminded me a of my friend and loyal reader, the good Judge, who spent some time doing some ordinance disposal in the Air Force. This one is for you.
somnambulist / sahm – NAM – byoo – list / a sleepwaker. Also, not coincidentally, the name of Jeremy Renner’s Angel episode.