It’s amazing how tired one gets doing nothing all day.

I suppose it would be irresponsible of me as an author if I didn’t tell everyone that USNI books are currently 50% off… including my latest, “Nothing Here Worth Dying For.” Remember folks: A book always makes a great Christmas present! www.usni.org/press/books?...

Dan Carlin’s latest… can’t wait to check it out! open.substack.com/pub/dancarli...

Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen: Stevie Ray Vaughan - Soul to Soul (1986) Ozzy Osbourne - Ultimate Sin (1986) Alice Cooper - Constrictor (1986) Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time (1987) Van Halen, Scorpions, Metallica - Monsters of Rock (1988)

Promote your books! www.amazon.com/Nothing-Here....

Guys guys guys… @dancarlin.bsky.social ‘s new Common Sense episode is out!!!!!!!!

I too would like to remind service members that they are only obligated to obey lawful orders. I don’t know what I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure saying this probably is not treason, probably doesn’t make me a traitor, and probably doesn’t deserve the death penalty.

Happy veterans… day.

Happy 250th Birthday to all the Marines and sailors I served with. A thread…

20 years after we met and became instant friends, I was grateful for the opportunity to catch up with my good friend, Dr. Philip W. Blood, on his podcast, “The Historian’s Stammtisch.” He asked some hard questions, and I was happy to answer them.

Seems timely.

Sorry, but David Lynch’s “Wild at Heart” is how I will always remember Diane Ladd.

My daughter is doing a deep-dive on Judas Priest on her KSDT radio show right now. Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! twitch.tv/ksdtradio

SoCal Folsoms off to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday at the I MEF Birthday Ball.

Happy SoCal Halloween from Immortan Joe and your friendly neighborhood witch!

I'm conscious I promised a review of @swbfolsom.bsky.social's "Where Youth and Laughter Go" and have singularly failed to deliver this. Suffice to say, this is an excellent memoir of a battalion commander, written in a reasoned, sober and truly 'warts and all' manner #HistBookChat #Skystorians 1/

Patrick Reade was one of my 3/7 Marines in 2011. 14 years later, he is still doing what the Cutting Edge is famous for: putting the safety and wellbeing of others before himself. I am proud beyond words to have served with this Marine.

Six more days ‘til Halloween.

With al-Asad back in the news, I will shamelessly plug my book by reposting my interview last weekend with the Military Reading Room: open.substack.com/pub/themilit...

The SoCal Folsom metal-heads topped off No Kings Day with a trip to Chula Vista to see Corrosion of Conformity, Alice Cooper, and Judas Priest. Yes, it totally rocked.

Two things can exist at the same time: A peaceful rally and an amphibious demonstration.

Many thanks to Dave Gran and Phil Gentile for featuring “Nothing Here Worth Dying For” in the Military Reading Room’s Visiting Authors Corner. They were kind enough not to truncate my long-form responses. open.substack.com/pub/themilit...

Many thanks to Dave Gran and Phil Gentile for featuring “Nothing Here Worth Dying For” in the Military Reading Room’s Visiting Authors Corner. They were kind enough not to truncate my long-form responses. open.substack.com/pub/themilit...

Bit late to the party, but very much enjoying these two. @swbfolsom.bsky.social has written another insightful and engaging memoir (review to follow), whilst Tripodi's study is a genuine eye-opener and deftly pushes back on the primacy of 'political' action in contemporary COIN. #HistBookChat

Gov’t shuts down & one agency impacted is the VA. That’s expected. But we *shouldn’t* expect the VA—Doug Collins—to shamelessly blame Democrats for the lack of support vets will face. Politicizing the VA—an organization created to serve those who served selflessly—is despicable.

The proof is in the reading, original and groundbreaking books are never an easy sell.

SecWar’s speech today would certainly resonate with the Marines and sailors of my last command — both the 50% who thought I was a fascist *and* the 50% who thought I was too woke.

Many thanks once again to my good friend Dr. Philip W. Blood @philipwblood.bsky.social for this tremendous opportunity… and once again proof that I absolutely suck at extemporaneous speaking. Apologies in advance! open.substack.com/pub/philipwb...

20 years after we met and became instant friends, I was grateful for the opportunity to catch up with my good friend, @philipwblood.bsky.social, on his podcast, “The Historian’s Stammtisch.” He asked some hard questions, and I was happy to answer them.

I am honored that the Military Writers Society of America just awarded ‘Nothing Here Worth Dying For’ the 2025 Gold Medal for Best Memoir. www.prlog.org/13100571-mil...

The music of Nirvana lives on through the 1st Marine Division Band.

The music of Ozzy Osbourne lives on through community steel pan.

SOON!

Re-invading Afghanistan. Yeah, that’s a *great* idea.

You think political violence is bad now? Check out how bad it could get in Dan Carlin’s @dancarlin.bsky.social Hardcore History episode about the revolutionary era of the late 1960s-early 1970s: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d...

How it started vs. How it’s going

Want to never sleep soundly again? Read Annie Jacobsen’s “Nuclear War: A Scenario,” and then spend a few hours messing around on NUKEMAP: nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/

SoCal sunset.

Congratulations to @zachota.bsky.social on his selection to command 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines — “The Professionals.” Bravo Zulu, and well-deserved!

Seen in the wild

Ozzy Osbourne, the original rock & roll rebel, is gone. He sang about good & evil, struggles w/fame & substance abuse, & his eternal wait for darkness. He also sang about & loved his family. Godspeed, Ozzy, on your journey to the center of eternity; we love you & we’ll see you on the other side.

Ozzy Osbourne, the original rock & roll rebel, is gone. He sang about good & evil, struggles w/fame & substance abuse, & his eternal wait for darkness. He also sang about & loved his family. Godspeed, Ozzy, on your journey to the center of eternity; we love you & we’ll see you on the other side.

Saw this masterpiece in person today at the National Gallery, and all I could think about was the “Painfotainment” episode of Hardcore History by @dancarlin.bsky.social

I’ve found my new calling: Cat Wrangler.

Look at this sweet bastard.

One of my life’s regrets will be that I never saw Black Sabbath live. I can only say that I wish I had been in Birmingham for this historic event.

It’s always humbling when something you wrote ends up on someone’s ‘favorite Books of the Year’ list, but to paraphrase @stephenking.bsky.social , there’s something a little depressing about people saying you did your best work 20 years ago.

This story by @radiofreetom.bsky.social is the most important thing you will read today. @queenofthinair.bsky.social is a model for what everyone should be doing now more than ever: Standing up for what is right, even if you’re standing alone.

This never gets old.