An Engineer Poet explores the world
Now THIS is what you call a technical!!
I’m back after a short vacation! It did not consist of anything like the training exercise below, though:
Photo from here: http://www.sealswcc.com/navy-seal-photos-page-4.html
Sometimes, a casualty has to be airlifted to a hospital, stat.
A Technical is, per Wikipedia, ” light improvised fighting vehicles, typically a civilian or military non-combat vehicle, modified to provide an offensive capability similar to a military gun truck. It is usually an open-backed civilian pickup truck or four-wheel drive vehicle mounting a machine gun, light anti-aircraft gun, anti-tank weapon, or other support weapon.”
DELARAM, Afghanistan–Afghan National Army soldiers conduct a patrol in western Afghanistan. (ANA photo by Sergeant Fathe Noori)
Monday is May Day and the Russians will hold their traditional parade in Red Square – which, by the way, is not so named because of communism. Here is a picture of some Spetsnaz (Russian Special Ops soldiers) in the snow.
In the course of the surprise combat readiness inspection units of the separate Airborne Spacial Task Force brigade is providing tactical assault and blocking the Severomorsk-3 airfield (Severomorsk, Murmansk region)
Happy Military Saturday, everyone! See you Monday!
Who needs a parachute, anyway? @31stMEU trains in helicopter insertion off the coast of Okinawa.
It’s been awhile since I wrote one of these, so here’s a look at what I”m currently reading:
Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About American Law, by Jay Feinman. In my quixotic quest to understand world affairs, I’ve noted that law comes up quite a bit, whether it pertains to international trade, human rights, or even biosecurity. The law pervades every part of our lives, and even here at home some of the cutting edge issues such as drones and internet privacy are being worked out in law courts. So I figured that an overview of American law was a good place to start, and I found this book at the library.
Blood and Earth: Modern Slavery, Ecocide, and the Secret to Saving the World, by Kevin Bales. I forget where I saw this one advertised, but with the combination of human trafficking and environmental damage, how could I not be interested?
Foundation’s Fear (Second Foundation Trilogy #1), by Gregory Benford. I mean, come on, Asimov’s Foundation books are classics. And how could anybody interested in international affairs not think Psychohistory is cool? Unfortunately, the master has passed away, so anything that continues his universe is worth a try.