Biting the Fiat Bullet

By Olde Salt

It was, without a doubt, the most miserable day of my twenty-four-year military career.

It was Shellback Initiation and I am certain anyone who has gone through it will agree with me.  This ritual is a centuries-old tradition that takes place at sea whenever a ship crosses over the equator.  All who have never been there, called Pollywogs, must participate regardless of rate or rank.

I spent initiation day on my hands and knees wearing thick gloves and bubble-wrap knee-pads.  I ate despicable things designed to induce vomiting.  All day long I wore a dead, nine-inch, well-ripened fish hanging on a short chain right under my nose.  My ass end, protected by more bubble-wrap, was beaten with wooden paddles and leather straps.  I could fill up pages but you get the picture.  For your viewing pleasure, here are a few delighted Pollywogs awaiting their fate. 

The final indignities of the day were kissing the well-greased belly of the “Royal Baby” (fattest crewman on the ship) then crawling through a trough overflowing with an evil gruel of brown sludge embellished with chunks of vile foodstuffs.  When I emerged from that trough;

I had never felt so filthy in my life.

The final step, highly welcomed, was to squish my way to the fantail and strip bare-ass naked so I could throw my disgusting clothing into the sea and get hosed down by a waiting fire-fighting crew.  (This was, of course, in the days before females were assigned to Navy warships.)

So, what does this have to do with Bitcoin and Veterans?