p. 16 I had tied some ribbons to mine so they’d be easier to find. So had everyone else. We had hundreds of identical duffels with ribbons that would have been distinguishable in daylight but were now slightly different shades of gray. Link to order from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social in comment

Lest we forget.

His first major text describes protecting the climate, welcoming migrants and pursuing economic justice as sacred obligations. To admirers Pope Leo XIV is a compassionate reformer; to critics, the “commie” or “woke pope” econ.st/3WLtVPn

p. 15 This time I did not transfer to a short Air Tyrol flight with real food served on real plates with real silverware. No, we had to drag our gear from the civilian terminal to the military one where we had seats on an ancient L-1011 to Qatar. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

p. 14 After eight years of war, all that had happened was the restoration of the prior borders. And lots of death and destruction. Two years later, in 1989, Saddam invaded and occupied Kuwait, which #Iraq had long claimed as its nineteenth province More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

Oh, changing the time by one hour for Daylight Savings is messing with your sleep schedule? "Why is it dark at 5 p.m.," you ask? Frilled sharks live in such deep water that they never see the sun at all! You didn't think about THAT, did you? No, you only ever think about yourself.

HAPPY FOUR SEASONS TOTAL LANDSCAPING DAY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE

The Kurds lived in the northern mountains, where I might have a chance to use the heavy winter gear in my duffels. The three Kurdish provinces in this area had become essentially autonomous from the rest of Iraq. The second major divide was religious. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

p. 12 I accepted the idea that the first day of school was too important to miss. What difference did it make, really? Not enough to argue about. This was my first chance to spend time with the officers deploying to #Iraq with me. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

I had not admitted to my friends that not all my motivations were so noble. Answering the country’s call was also a matter of self-respect, of being able to face myself later in life. Dodging this would have required me to admit I was too scared. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

Plenty will be written tomorrow as it should: Ds +14 in VA gov (+10 predicted), Ds +13 in NJ gov (+3 predicted), CA countergerrymandering wins, PA judges retained. But don't miss this: all NJ and VA counties shifted blue, and the Ds flipped at least 13 of the 49 R seats in VA house.

Still following the broader election outcomes: With over 80% of the vote in statewide, this is what the Virginia house race looks like on www.vpap.org/electionresu.... Team Blue had a 51-49 majority, and it has flipped 7 seats from Team Red

With about 58% of the vote in statewide, this is what the Virginia house race looks like on www.vpap.org/electionresu.... Team Blue has 51 seats now, so it needs all the D seats and three others to hold that majority

With about 20% of the vote in statewide, this is what the Virginia house race looks like on www.vpap.org/electionresu... Team Blue has 51 seats now, so it needs all the D seats and three others to hold that majority.

Very early results in #Virginia #election have Jones running about 5% behind Spanberger. That would suggest she needs to win by 10 points to carry him over the line.

If you are an election returns degenerate like me, the most user-friendly tracker for the Virginia House of Delegates looks to be www.vpap.org/electionresu...

Which is from the felon's version of the Lincoln Bathroom in our White House and which is from Saddam Hussein's al-Faw Palace?

Today in my free substack, I preview the election and discuss how random impulsive acts are one of the problems of living in an autocracy. Subscribe and share! fromtheramparts.substack.com/p/stochastic...

American forces seemed stretched to their limits, without obvious progress being made toward victory. None of this had anything to do with me, other than leading me to offer condolences when I visited with Spaniards at NATO while I was in Brussels. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

Instead, I had chosen—no, pushed myself into—the unknown. An unknown where people lived or died based on how active their bladder was when a blindly aimed rocket landed. I had not decided to come to #Iraq because I was enthusiastic about the #war. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

I was beginning to appreciate I had volunteered for something that wasn’t merely different or unknown. Saddam had used poison gas to massacre Kurds during his war with Iran, and there was no reason to believe every bit of his stockpile had been found. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

I was also told to pack civilian business attire because I might need to attend an official function where I should not be in uniform. No one knew what I’d be doing or where I’d be doing it. I felt at once overprepared and underprepared. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

Looks like the ones in Baghdad too

I had faced the business end of a firearm only once, on a visit to a missile maintenance facility at K. I. Sawyer AFB in Michigan fifteen years earlier. Entry to where the nuclear weapons were kept involved transiting a long tunnel of wire fencing. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

The print version of @theonion.com is worth every dime.

I no longer had an office with windows opening on a panorama from Cheyenne Mountain to the Rampart Range to distract me from grading and lesson preparation. I no longer had windows at all. This situation, however, gave me an edge over others. More coming soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

“That’s good. And it’s tax-free, too, right?” “Yes. All my pay will be untaxed while I’m there.” Money, or its absence, had become a bit of an obsession in our household. We couldn’t afford to live in our ridiculous 4,500 square foot home. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

This week in my free substack, I discuss the actual problem with being the party of "they/them" -- it's not what people say it is! -- and link at the end to a classic SNL bit from 1982. Link in the comment for the algorithm; subscribe and share!

After two days of constantly being together, Neal and Mike and I didn’t have much left to say to each other, so I used the time to reflect on the choices that had brought me here. Volunteering for this duty may not have been one of my brightest ideas. More soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

I have a very bad feeling about this...

“Isn’t this our main point of entry?” I asked. “Shouldn’t it be more secure?” My question evoked laughter as the small crowd started to break up. An NCO waved at the highway in the opposite direction. "This had to have been indirect fire." More coming soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

There I was: standing on the flight line at Baghdad International Airport, gawking at a pillar of smoke. It towered into the clear August sky beyond a low building and some scraggly trees broiling in the midday heat. More coming soon from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

This week in my free substack, I comment on what I saw at the rally Saturday. Please subscribe and share! fromtheramparts.substack.com/p/no-kings-p...

This week in my free Substack, I reflect on a visit to the Colorado ballet that has absolutely no political relevance at all. Subscribe and share! fromtheramparts.substack.com/p/count-trum...

NC A&T’s logo looks like it’s about to get canceled at a Coldplay concert. I can’t unsee it.

This week in my free Substack, I share the impact of pathologies I observed in the military staff in Iraq and relate them to current American politics. I also share a vignette that I hope is completely irrelevant. Share and subscribe! fromtheramparts.substack.com/p/fear-and-r...

Trump's energy policies are laughable. This ad proves it. [from: @canarymedia.com]

"Oklahoma ranks among the lowest states in public education quality, with one recent survey putting the state at 50th place." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

As always, read what George Packer writes www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

This week in my free Substack, I consider the appeal of stupid and futile gestures against the grind of doing the work. Link in the comments. fromtheramparts.substack.com/p/holding-ou...

This week in my free Substack, I reflect on some of the concepts addressed in the Secular Buddhism workshop I attended over the weekend. fromtheramparts.substack.com/p/groundless...

This week, I offer a personal update in my free Substack. Subscribe and share as you wish! fromtheramparts.substack.com/p/divide-and...

SCOTUS allowing ICE to racially profile will embolden Trump to use ICE & military against his political opponents, potentially demanding citizenship checks at polls & intimidating Dem voters in 2026. Already seeing such tactics with occupation of LA, DC & Chicago www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

If you don't subscribe... you can fix that after you click through! Great summary of the health concerns that the major media have been coverage much much less than they did every health incident with Biden or Hillary Clinton! www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/it-s-time-...

This week, a guest Stack by Kimberly Reifel in honor of Labor Day. Our rights are not only at risk under the felon, they are at risk in the workplace -- so it's no surprise that big business supports him and his party. fromtheramparts.substack.com/p/the-long-t...

malicious compliance is the best compliance

Ramón y Fedora, a tumultuous but long-lasting relationship

You did it! Thank you for voting. Democrat Catelin Drey has flipped an open Iowa state Senate seat, raise a glass! This victory means Republicans no longer hold a supermajority in Iowa.

Resident yellowtail parrotfish Ramón finally shakes its remora and takes a much-needed 7 minute nap at site 1, 8.11.2020 #coralcitycamera