Observing Lax Role Models in High and Low Places

UPDATE (June 6, 2008): The officer seen in the video (linked below) who administered the dressing down to crew has been identified as Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander John Aitken, saying: 'Getting your ******* napper down... while watching a ******* DVD and swigging lager isn't accepting responsibility for your shipmates.' - Confirming source - Crashed nuclear submarine sailor found asleep with lager

A spokeswoman said of the vessel's future: 'The extent of damage from the grounding is still being investigated and it would be wrong to speculate at this stage about what will happen to the submarine once she is back in the UK' source

UPDATE: American translation of XO's terminology QM's caboosh - UK slang an aggregate; usu. in the phrase the whole caboosh: all, everything, everyone

Recently, we have learned of an incredible example of laxity. Early subs had no water closets. Why? Starting with what Molten Eagle describes as a 'manned ballast tank' (c -2008) called the Hunley, early subs had severely limited navigational capabilities. Sailors could not be aboard them at sea for a whole day. 'Swim calls' and 'relief ' receptacles provided toiletry conveniences, if nature called. In the early 1900's, interior 'water closets' were not yet standard in most homes. ---------------------------------------------------

This changed about the times submarines transitioned from transported cargo on larger ships to open water vessels. As early as 1913, U.S. sub plans included water closets, my research indicates. ---------------------------

Submariners, the adventurous forerunners of manned space programs, well realize the value of back-ups and redundancy. Alas, every ounce on the ISS is calculated for priority of need. Although the International Space Station’s lone toilet has broken twice in 7 years, spare pumps are not in abundance. As in submarines, discipline and resourcefulness must be. ----------------------------

The space station's liquid-waste collection system involves fans to overcome the lack of gravity.

With infinite, weightless vacuum available for suction, engineers have relied on fan motors with moving parts. Go figure. -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back-ups

The crew -- two Russians and one American -- has used the toilet on the Soyuz return capsule, but it has a limited capacity. They now are using a back-up bag-like collection system that can be connected to the broken toilet, according to NASA public affairs officials. ---------------------

'It's not really an emergency, they have many options available if they need,' Cloutier said.'

Redundancy

There is another toilet ready to fly in the fall, in order to have two toilets on board for when they'll have the expanded crew of six' at the ISS, Cloutier, also said. -----------------------------

Resourcefulness

In the meantime, NASA is reporting that the crew is 'bypassing the troublesome hardware' with a 'special receptacle' attached to the toilet. Other reports speak of manual pump overrides by the astronauts. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Discipline

Here's a real change of pace. Holy #4@% , Batman, no wonder there's a discipline problem on HMS Superb! Have you watched this secreted video of a real a$$-chewing? The speaker is identified as the XO. If that is true, it kind of explains the other problems, including the one he is ranting about (quite rightly, I may add, but not in respectful language my XO's mustered for such occasions). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Your attention is particularly directed to two phrases:

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[0.30] 'Getting your f***ing napper down in the QM's caboosh [American translation needed] while watching a f***ing DVD and swigging lager isn't accepting responsibility for your shipmates. ' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[1.07] '... someone will take a pi$$ in [inaudible]. -------------------------------------------------

Now, does this exemplify a proper attitude for the senior service branch that helped set the stage for ISS astronauts? Listen to the whole 5:40 minutes rant, and judge for yourself.