Having crossed over enemy lines, I see both sides of the recruiting game with much more clarity than before. I liken it to being in a smoke-filled room, with a strobe light and all the sudden, the house lights come on and everything looks much different than before. All the strange and wonderful people that were on the dance floor suddenly become much more average. The atmosphere has changed from one of mystery and darkness to one of clear light and reality.

In my previous life as a…

Ever go to a kid's birthday party that had a pinata? You know, you are blind-folded, spun around, handed a broomstick or baseball bat and told to "Swing!" I hated that game. Sure, some may find it fun to blindly swing a hard wooden object into the darkness and hope you hit something (or someone, if one of the kids at the party was one that shared their lunch with that boy you liked, maybe) and a bunch of candy pours out while everyone cheers for you. But, I really hated that…