Such a clear and concise example of the median Trump/MAGA/far right low-information voter. “Oh, awesome, he’s going to hurt someone else I casually hate (in this case, LBGTQ) even though they have no actual negative effect on my life. He will always look out for ME and my interests, though.”

Many years ago, I wrote a couple of papers for my MA (Defence Studies) comparing Canadian and Danish post-WW2 defence policy and how they balanced European NATO commitments, UN/out of area ops, and Arctic sovereignty. My professor told me it was quixotically niche, but my time has finally come.

I always thought Bernie would be worthless as a US President because he was oblivious to anything outside of his domestic policy fixations (however worthy they may be). Whatever Hilary’s failings, she at least knew the rest of the world wasn’t just NPCs depriving Americans of jobs and healthcare.

A personal connection to this weeks #histbookchat, #photofriday and #booksky entry. David Wilson’s “Alfresco Flight” is a decent history of RAAF operations in support of Australian exploration and scientific activities in Antarctica to about 1990. 1/2

Short interlude at Queenstown, NZ

The thing about the Trump admin is that you can ask historians "who was the most crooked person to ever run [pick any federal dept/agency/office]" and nobody even has to debate it anymore, it's almost always the Trump pick. A whole genre of historic trivia Qs wiped out just like that.

An articulate and measured critique of ICE profile and conduct by someone who has done some real soldiering, not cosplaying as an unaccountable tough guy amongst his own citizens. I don’t know if he was regular or reserve, but he reminds me of great Minnesota NG guys I served with in Afghanistan.

Rep. @AOC: I understand that Vance believes shooting a young mother of three in the face three times is an acceptable America that he wants to live in, and I do not. That is a fundamental difference between Vance and I. I do not believe that the American people should be assassinated in the street.

Reposting this in light of current events.

The Trump administration is seeking the approval of the “no mouthy bitch tells me what to do” MAGA supporters. And to frighten everyone else into submission.

Going to make a start on this tonight. Seems relevant. #histbookchat #booksky

Ambitious stakeholder manipulates US SOF to do a capture/kill on an inconvenient rival or boss they want out of the way? Never would have happened in the GWOT… 🤔

Yep, GWOT cult of the SOF HVI raid. Just knock this dude over, it will be cool, no way someone else steps up to take his place, definitely not the person who gave us the HUMINT on the HVI…

“Just do a really cool capture/kill on a HVI, bro, and don’t worry- everything will fall into place” Peak GWOT cult of the operator brain.

I wouldn’t really say I have a favourite music now, but the 16YO version of me was VERY keen on Robert Palmer’s “Simply Irresistible”. Can’t imagine why. youtu.be/SoHpSY3IoAI?...

Getting into the Christmas presents for #histbookchat and #photofriday and learning a bit about two continents I haven’t been to yet. “Patria” maybe has a bit TOO much of the authors prior opinions, and “Ancient Africa” is perhaps a bit dry and textbook-like, but both are interesting reads.

Thinking about all of the reading I have done this year, and I have to congratulate @prchovanec.bsky.social again for his outstanding “Cleared for the Option” - easily in my top tier of books read in 2025 as an enjoyable, clear and informative read.

Even with all the Christmas festivities I managed to read Paul Harris’ the “The Men Who Planned the War”, about the evolution of the British Army’s G (Operational) staff at Brigade to Army level in WW1 for this week’s #histbookchat and #photofriday 1/2

Had a good #histbookchat result this Christmas

If you see this, repost with your model of positive masculinity:

“Gunfire! British Artillery in World War II” by Stig Moberg is indulging my inner gunnery tragic for #histbookchat and #photofriday this week, with impressive detail on Royal Artillery organisation, procedures and employment in WW2. 1/2

In this week’s edition of #histbookchat and #photofriday, two books by Mary Helen Spooner addressing my recently-developed interest in how authoritarian states restore democratic institutions and norms (no idea why this topic interests me recently 🤔🤷‍♂️) Open to other recommendations on this theme

When I go home people'll ask me, "Hey Charlie Brown, why do you do it man? What, you some kinda war junkie?" You know what I'll say? I won't say a goddamn word.

I’ve had a few things going on in the last month or so which have led me to neglect #histbookchat and #photofriday. Now I’m back, I’ve just started a history of a relatively obscure British Empire unit - the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery - which hasn’t had a lot written about it. 1/2

Here’s a couple of immediate contenders by @wesleymorgan.bsky.social and Simon Akam (I don’t think he’s on BlueSky?)

How about squalid little wars at the edge/end of empire, but Star Wars? ZULU, but Star Wars THE BATTLE OF ALGIERS, but Star Wars APOCALYPSE NOW, but Star Wars

Wordle 1,603 2/6 🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I don’t think this is ever going to happen again

The security camera system at home had a software update today. Now, when one of the neighbourhood kids runs onto my driveway I get an alert that implies the PLA are dropping an airborne brigade into Papua New Guinea.

Back to Albert Camus again for this week’s #histbookchat and #photofriday.

Not thinking highly of the median US voter was helpful in completing this survey

This is a thought-provoking read

Making slow progress with Eric Tagliacozzo’s “In Asian Waters” for this week’s #histbookchat and #photofriday. (I’ve had a few other things going on in the last week or so to distract me)

I can accept an argument that Gore would have responded to 9/11 more thoughtfully (and would almost certainly not gone into Iraq), but the idea that Gore would have magically prevented 9/11 just be ‘being better’ seems a bit like fanciful thinking to me 1/2

Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness (if you feel like). (I do feel a little bit guilty not having Bernard in here as well)

There’s a great thesis waiting to be written that compares the respective recruiting pools and recruiting methods for ICE and for the Russian army today.

Amongst other things, I used to teach artillery safety procedures at our School of Artillery (a long time ago now) and commanded a couple of artillery batteries. This is not what you would call a good day at the office or “just a routine cost of doing business” for an artillery unit .

In the space of 72 hours late last week I had all-nighters in two separate hospital emergency departments for two separate family members (one involving some pretty serious surgery). I’m not exactly full of energy and enthusiasm for the working week this Monday morning.

Big shout out to all those Americans who took part in or supported #NoKings today. Take your country back from Trump and his assorted tin-pot fascists and thugs.

If you are following me you probably don’t need to be told what sort of person Trump is, what he values, or the sort of people he likes. But if you had been living in complete isolation from the news for the last ten years or so, then maybe this could be revealing.

Revisiting Tony Judt’s “The Burden of Responsibility: Blum, Camus, Aron and the French Twentieth Century” for this week’s #histbookchat and #photofriday. The experience and legacy of centrists who ran real risks and demonstrated courage in the face of authoritarianism seems relevant today, maybe?

Everyone assumes that Crouchback is Evelyn Waugh’s surrogate character in Waugh’s “Sword of Honour” trilogy, but it’s really Apthorpe in “Men of Arms”, then Ludovic in “Officers and Gentlemen” and “Unconditional Surrender”

I spent some time on planes this week, so I got to read two entries for #histbookchat and #photofriday - “The Dawn of Everything - A New History of Humanity” by David Graeber and David Wengrow, and “British Infantry Battalion Commanders in the First World War” by Peter E Hodgkinson

Age yourself with a film you saw in the cinema as a kid

When people were shooting back and I would have had to go to boot camp first and submit to some actual discipline l? Oh, no, I couldn’t serve THEN. But now I can *serve* by terrorising unarmed women and kids with funny-sounding names and I get to cosplay as an operator? Count me in!

Pretty happy with this Grand Final result, especially that a couple of blokes who missed last year’s Grand Final got to play in a winning Grand Final side.

“As it turns out, you can’t sell your soul to Trump and keep your spine; they’re a package deal.”

This week’s entry for #histbookchat and #photofriday is “Shattered Lands” - quite a readable popular history (by William Dalrymple’s son, Sam) of the winding down of the Raj and subsequent events through to Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 1/2

Share your favorite black and white movie The Battle of Algiers (1966)

technologically advance a band Midnight Solar