---
title: "Why it sucks to report to the ‘Good Idea Fairy’"
date: "2020-08-17"
modified: "2020-10-30"
authors:
  - name: "Logan Nye"
    job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/logan-nye/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-movies/why-it-sucks-to-report-to-the-good-idea-fairy/"
categories:
  - "Join the Military"
  - "Military Culture"
tags:
  - "Africa"
---

# Why it sucks to report to the ‘Good Idea Fairy’

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17313420/origin.png>)

Air Force Capt. Mark Harper was probably worried about the lack of network connections and other technology in 2007 when he was sent to Djibouti, Africa, to take over a staff section there. Unfortunately, his colonel hadn't gotten the message about Djibouti's limited network access and ordered Harper and his crew to start making weather podcasts for Djibouti.

---

A podcast. In 2007. For a group of people with limited internet access. The "Good Idea Fairy" had struck again.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17313421/origin.png>)
*Air Force Capt. Mark Harper and his crew record their weather podcast for the people of Djibouti. (Go90 No Sh\*t There I Was screenshot)*

Shocker, it had a limited listenership and the crew wasn't happy while making it. But since the order came from a colonel, they would need at least a general to shoot it down.

Unfortunately for them, their attempts to sabotage the program in front of a visiting two-star didn't exactly go according to plan. Check out the whole story, complete with a colonel falling asleep on a grateful captain, in the video embedded above.

### Watch more No Sh\*t There I Was:

### [Why it sucks to report to the 'Good Idea Fairy'](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-movies/why-it-sucks-to-report-to-the-good-idea-fairy/>)

### [A Ranger describes what being a 'towed jumper' is actually like](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/a-ranger-describes-what-being-a-towed-jumper-is-actually-like/>)

### [That time Linda Hamilton asked a Marine to the ball](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/watch/that-time-linda-hamilton-asked-a-marine-to-the-ball/>)

### [This is a perfect example of how ridiculous boot camp is](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-movies/watch-this-soldiers-story-about-the-ridiculousness-of-boot-camp/>)

## Author
Logan was an Army journalist and paratrooper in the 82nd. Now, he's a freelance writer covering military history, culture, and technology. He has two upcoming podcasts and a Twitch channel focused on basic military literacy.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JustLoganNye>)  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/ProfHarlequin-111921498198749>)